A joint humanitarian evacuation, spearheaded by the International
Organization for Migration (IOM) and the United Nations High
Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) with the support of a large
number of countries, have evacuated over 50,000 migrants stranded
at border camps in Tunisia and Egypt. Tens of thousands of others
were taken home by aircrafts and ships provided by their
governments.

"This is one of the biggest humanitarian evacuations in
history," IOM Director General William Lacy Swing said.

The two organizations are appealing to donor governments today
for renewed substantial funding and logistical assets to handle the
second phase of evacuations. IOM estimates that over one million
migrant workers remain in Libya, including many from Sub-Saharan
Africa.

At the height of the exodus, over 17,000 who fled Libya were
crowded into a UNHCR-supported transit camp at the Tunisian border
with many awaiting help to return to their home countries. As of
today, only 6,500 people remain stranded in Tunisia, 2,500 in Egypt
and 1,500 in Algeria and Niger. Most will be evacuated by IOM and
UNHCR flights this weekend creating a more manageable situation in
the border areas as new groups of people continue to flee
Libya.

IOM and UNHCR are estimating that an average of 1,500 to 2,500
people in need of evacuation will continue to cross these borders
every day. The two organizations are requesting governments to
urgently provide funding to enable the continued evacuation of new
groups.

"The generous funding and in-kind contributions have so far
allowed us to safely evacuate more than 50,000 migrants desperate
to be home, safe with their families. But thousands more will still
need help," says IOM Director General Swing.

"We are grateful to Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria and Niger for
offering refuge to thousands of civilians fleeing Libya daily and
in dire need of assistance," said António Guterres, UN High
Commissioner for Refugees. "With impressive help from governments,
we have been able to manage the massive and sudden movement of tens
of thousands of people. But this humanitarian crisis is far from
over."

Some 300,000 people have fled Libya in the past few weeks. As
the fighting inside Libya continues, UNHCR and IOM are ready to
assist new groups of arrivals and transport them quickly back to
their countries. Meanwhile, UNHCR is working to find solutions for
a growing number of people originating from situations of war and
persecution who have no possibility to repatriate.

For further information on this topic, please contact:

IOM:

Jean-Philippe Chauzy

Mobile: +41 79 285 43 66

Office: +41 22 717 93 61

E-mail: "mailto:pchauzy@iom.int">pchauzy@iom.int

Jemini Pandya

Mobile: +41792173374

Office: +41227179486

E-mail: "mailto:jpandya@iom.int">jpandya@iom.int

UNHCR:

Sybella Wilkes

Mobile: +41795579138

Office: +41227397968

Andrej Mahecic

Mobile: +41792007617

Office: +41227398657