Update no 11 Humanitarian Situation in Libya and the Neighbouring Countries 18 March 2011
Highlights
• The IOM Director General and UNHCR High Commissioner provided an update to donors in Geneva on 18 March 2011. They praised the continuous efforts of the Governments and host communities of the neighbouring countries and appealed to donor countries to continue their commitment to the operation. UNHCR/IOM currently work with a scenario of around 1,500-2,500 people crossing from Libya and in need of assistance per day (total for all neighbouring countries). This would translate into future needs of air evacuation in the amount of USD 1,6 – 3,2 million per day. Both the HC as well as the DG underlined the unpredictability of the situation and appealed for flexibility and financial support from donors.
• On 17 March, the U.N. Security Council voted to authorize a no-fly zone over Libya. The resolution imposes a “ban of all flights in Libyan airspace” except for aid planes; authorizes member states to “take all necessary measures” to “protect civilians and civilian populated areas under threat of attack”; excludes the use of occupation force; toughens the arms embargo by calling on all member states to ‘inspect their territory vessels and aircraft bound to or from Libya”; and widens an asset freeze to include Libyan Investment Authority, Central Bank of Libya and Libyan National Oil Company among others.
• The trend in numbers of people crossing from Libya into Tunisia remains unpredictable. In Egypt the A young Somali child clings on to his mother, whose family arrived at number of arrivals increased in the past days and Choucha camp, Tunisia./ UNHCR/ A. Branthwaite the majority of new arrivals now consist of non- Egyptians, including an increased share of Libyans.
• As of 17 March, the joint IOM/UNHCR Humanitarian Evacuation Cell (HEC) coordinated a total of 216 flights (IOM/UNHCR arranged flights and bi-lateral flights coordinated with HEC). 42,627 people were evacuated, including 36,261 from Tunisia and 5,902 from Egypt (HEC coordinated flights).
Departures from Tunisia and Egypt by destination Total 42,627 people as of 17 March
Bangladesh, 21,752
Other, 2,687
Mali, 3,473
Ghana, 5,113
Egypt, 9,602
Population Movements By 16 March, 300,706 persons arrived to Tunisia (158,721), Egypt (128,814), Niger (4,077) and Algeria (9,094). While the influx to Tunisia decreased, the number of people crossing to Egypt increased in the past days.
Border crossings as of 16 March 2011 Daily arrivals in Egypt and Tunisia Tunisia Egypt 5,500 5,000 TOTAL 158,721 TOTAL 128,814 4,500 4,000 Tunisia Tunisians Egyptians 3,500 3,000 Egy pt 19,022 772,302 2,500 Libyans Others 2,000 1,500 16,149* 56,512* 1,000 Others 123,550 *This figure includes usual border traffic 04/03/11 05/03/11 06/03/11 07/03/11 08/03/11 09/03/11 10/03/11 11/03/11 12/03/11 13/03/11 14/03/11 15/03/11
Country Updates • Protection UNHCR held meetings with a group of Somali and LIBYA Eritreans to discuss potential durable solutions. It was UNHCR through cooperation with local partners on the decided that Somali refugees will not yet be considered ground facilitated the voluntary transfer of small for resettlement until those Somalis, who are willing to groups of concern from Benghazi to Saloum, upon repatriate, are clearly identified. Five Eritrean refugees their specific request. The UNHCR Libya emergency were interviewed for resettlement. team remains on stand-by in Al Saloum, Egypt. While the number of the camp population is decreasing, TUNISIA UNHCR is restructuring the camp to improve security Tunisian border with Libya (Ras Ajdir border after reported incidents of sexual assault. crossing): On 16 March, a total of 2,389 people arrived, including Libyans. The Humanitarian Information Centre for camp residents Choucha Transit camp: As of 17 March, 8,829 opened on 17 March. people are residing in the camp, among them over 740 persons of concern to UNHCR in Choucha • Humanitarian assistance camp, this includes 624 Somalis and 115 Eritreans. A total of 21,000 meals were distributed by partner organizations. The construction of toilet cubicles, shower Choucha camp population as of 17 March cubicles and latrines is ongoing. Total population 8,829
Others, 355 Bangladesh, 4,084 EGYPT Sudan, 589 Egyptian border with Libya (Saloum border crossing): A total of 3,777 people arrived on 16 March. Somalia, 624 UNHCR continued to monitor arrivals at the transit area along the border. Besides Libyan families, rebel fighters have started to arrive, some of them injured. Nigeria, 793 Some 2,500 – 3,000 currently remain at the border, Ghana, 1,264 Mali, 1,120 including some 92 women and 71 children.
• Protection UAE Red Crescent camp (est. capacity 1,400): Palestinians continued not to have access to the border. On 17 March, a total of 583 persons are staying in A Palestinian man and his daughter have been denied the camp, including 395 people from Mali, 99 from access since 15 March, despite efforts by UNHCR to Sudan and 83 from Nigeria. Late on 17 March a enable their entry into Egypt. A Palestinian member of a group from Burkino Faso arrived. Reuter’s team that crossed from Libya to Egypt on 16 March was denied entry. No news was received that he IFRC camp (est. capacity 2,000 persons): The was allowed in despite both UNHCR and Reuters camp is not yet opened. exerted efforts to enable his entry. 2 Malmstrőm to discuss proposals of a possible There are currently 260 Ethiopians, Eritreans and involvement of the EU with regards to future influx, Somalis from Benghazi at the border, including a including a burden sharing system, a strengthening of new group of 148 which arrived in the night of 16 FRONTEX and an extraordinary contribution of EUR 100 March. UNHCR continues interviews. million to guarantee adequate reception conditions.
• Humanitarian assistance A total of 7,000 meals were distributed on 16 March. Resource Mobilization New arrivals were provided with mats, blankets, food So far, UNHCR has received contributions in the amount and sanitary material. of USD 31,113,856. UNHCR continues to appeal to
donors for cash contributions towards the UNHCR ITALY supplementary budget. In addition, IOM and UNHCR Arrivals to Lampedusa: The total number of new continue to appeal for in-kind air donations towards the arrivals since mid-January increased to 11,285 joint IOM/UNHCR evacuation operation. Given the on- people; 2,800 people currently hosted in reception going needs at the border and developments inside centers, 2590 of them in the regular and 210 in a Libya, UNHCR is currently revising its budget. provisional reception center. The Regional Inter-Agency Flash Appeal for the Libyan The Italian Minister of Interior, Roberto Maroni, Crisis, requesting total of USD 160.3m for March-June, explained that the current influx is mainly composed will be revised by the beginning of April. Currently the of Tunisian nationals but that there may be a similar appeal is 50% funded. influx from Egypt and/or Libya in the future. He has a meeting scheduled with EU Commissioner Cecilia
On the sidewalk of the arrival area of the border post of Saloum, Sudanese citizens are waking up from their sleep after a chilly night./ UNHCR/ F.Noy
For further details please contact: UNHCR Headquarters 94, Rue de Montbrillant Geneva, 1202
Mr. Andrew Harper Coordinator, Libya Emergency Phone: +41 22 739 8105 Email: [email protected]
FF II CC SS SS FF II CC SS SS Capital Crossing point Field Information and Coordination Support Section UNHCR Regional Office International boundary UNHCR Country Office / Main road Sources: National Office / Liaison Office Libyan Arab Jamahiriya and neighbouring countries UNHCR, Global Insight digital mapping Secondary road © 1998 Europa Technologies Ltd. UNHCR Field Unit Population figures: Railway IOM / UNHCR Humanitarian Refugee camp Population movements since 20th February 2011 Evacuation Cell Elevation Asylum-seeker centre (Above mean sea level) The boundaries and names shown As of 18 March 2011 and the designations used on this Urban refugee location 3,250 to 4,000 metres map do not imply official endorsement 2,500 to 3,250 metres or acceptance by the United Nations. !! Main town or village 1,750 to 2,500 metres Libya_Operation_A3LC.WOR
!!!!!! !!! ((( 1,000 to 1,750 metres !!! !!! !!!Cómiso!!!!!! ((( !!! !!! !!! !! !!! !!! !!!!!! Secondary!!! town or village ! !! Ser !!! !! Annaba Tebourba !!! !!! !!! !!! !!! !! AntalAntalyAntalyya !!! !!! !!! !!! !!! Marmaris!!! AAntalyAAntalynntttaalylyly !!! Jedeida !!! !!! !!! !!! !!! AAnntttaalylyly!!! Jijel !!! !!! Moláoi !!! 750 to 1,000 metres !!!!!! TUNISTUNIS !!!Scicli !!! !!! !!! !!! TUNISTUNIS !!! !!! !!! !!! !!! !!! !!! !!! Elmali !!! !!! Pachino Population movement!!! !!! 500 to 750 metres !!! Grombalia !!! Sími !!! Fethiye ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ (border crossing) ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ !!! ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ !!! !!! ¿ !!! Guelma !!! !!! 250 to 500 metres !!! !!! !!! Ródhos !!! !!! Hammamet !!! !!! Kumluca !!! 0 to 250 metres !!! Souk Ahras Air evacuation !!! PozzalloPozzallo Lampedusa* MALTAPozzalloPozzallo GREECE Below mean sea level !!! Siliana Victoria !!! 11,285 persons !!! !!!! !!! Kalaa Kebira !!! VALLETTAVALLETTA !!! VALLETTAVALLETTA Khánia ! !!! !!! !!! !!! !!! !!! !!! !!! (As of: 16-Mar-11) !!! !!! !!! Kairouan !!! Moknine !!! Thala !!! !!! Iraklion !!! !!! !!! !!! Kastellion !!! Anóyia !!! LampedusaLampedusa !!! !!! Khenchela !!! LampedusaLampedusa Neapolis !!! !!! Tébessa !!! !!! Ayía Marína !!! !! !!! !!! !!! !!! !!! !!! Chebba !!! !!! !!! Sbeitla !!! !!! !!! !!! !!! !!! !!! !!! !!! Réthimnon !!! !!! ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ ¿ !!! !!! Sidi Bouzid Moírai Sitia TUNISIA !! Sfax
!!! Gafsa Metlaoui !!! !!! Mediterranean Sea !!! Djebel Mdilla IOM/UNHCR evacuation DjerbaDjerba !!! DjerbaDjerba 36,261 persons !!! !!! !!! Tozeur Gabès !!! Nefta !!! ¿¿ (As of: 17-Mar-11) ¿¿
((( (((( El Oued RasRas AjdirAjdir Choucha ¼¼¼ IOM/UNHCR evacuation !!! 8,829 persons ChouchaChoucha !!! 5,902 persons (As of: 17-Mar-11) ((TRIPOLI(TRIPOLI Al Bayda Touggourt ((TRIPOLI((TRIPOLI ((( ((( !!! ((( ((( !!! ((( ((( !!! ((( ((( !!! ((( ((( ((( Darnah Zauara ( ( Ed Dachla Al Khums !!! Al Mari (As of: 17-Mar-11) ((( Cussabàt (((( Zliten !!! !!! ((( ( ((( (((( Misurata Tarhuna ((( (((( Gioda Banghazi !! ((( (((( Tubruq
((( AlAl SalumSalum Bardiyah (((( AlAl SalumSalum ((( 158,721 persons ((( ((( ((( ( Hassi Messaoud (((( (((( Suluq ¼¼ ((( Sidi Barrani ¼¼((( ¼((( ¼¼ ( ¼¼((( ¼¼((( ¼¼((( ¼((( ( ((( ((( (((( Buqbuq ((( ((( Abuqrin (As of: 16-Mar-11) (((( Mizdah ( Alexandria ((( ((((MersaMersa MatruhMatruh Kafr el-Sheikh ((( (((( Surt !! !!! !!! ((( Zawyet Sidi Musa !!! ( !!! !!! Damanhur!!! ((( (((( Ghírza
((( !!! (((( Ajdabiyah Kafr el-Dauwâr !!! !!! Z ((( ((( 128,814 persons(((( !!! (((( Bu Nujaym Tanta !!!
((( ((( ((( Marsá al Burayqah ( ( (As of: 16-Mar-11) ((( Al Uqaylah Al Qaryah ash Sahrqiyah ( !! Ghadamis CAIROCAIRO !!!El !!! !!! H ((( ALGERIA Al Jaghbub (((( ((( (((( Qara
El-qubabat !!!
((( !!! (((( Rhourde Hamra !!! ((( ((( Maradah ((( ((( ( (((( Siwa (((( Waddan !!! ((( Beni Suef !!! (((( Jalu
((( (((( Zillah 9,094 persons ((( (((( Fort Flatters (As of: 14-Mar-11) El-Minya !!!
((( (((( Maison Rouge EGYPT Mallawi LIBYAN ARAB JAMAHIRIYA !!! Deir Mawas !!! !!! Dairût El-qusiya !!!
Beniadi El-bahariya And Beniadi El-qibli !!! !!! ((( ((( Sabhah ((( Qasr Farafra ( ( Asyut
!! ((( (((( Awbari
((( (((( Polignac ((( (((( Tmassah
!! ((( (((( Sardalas ((( Marzuq (((( Maabus Iusef
El-kharga !!! 0 200.0 ((( Ghat ( 4,077 persons
((( Djanet kilometers ( (As of: 16-Mar-11) ((( (((( Tajarhi
((( (((( Al Jawf Scale: 1:9,389,000 * Lampedusa figure includes arrivals since mid-January 2011 To Niger Printed: 18 March 2011 [email protected]