Emergency appeal n° MDR82001 Middle East & North GLIDE n° OT-2011-000025-TUN/LBY/EGY Operations update n° 6 Africa: Civil Unrest 6 May 2011 Period covered by this Ops Update: 12 April – 4 May 2011 Revised Emergency Appeal target: CHF 12,269,102; the multilateral element of the appeal is for CHF 11,591,972. Appeal coverage: 85% Note: This is a provisional figure; contributions are being recorded. Appeal history: · The Emergency Appeal was launched on a preliminary basis on 1 March 2011 for CHF 4,400,000 for six months to assist 100,000 beneficiaries. · The total of CHF 59,374 was allocated from the IFRC Disaster Relief Emergency Fund (DREF) to support this operation. · On 24 March, the IFRC issued a Revised Emergency Appeal for CHF 12,269,102 (CHF 11,591,972 multilateral) to assist 150,000 beneficiaries in the region until December 2011. Summary and key messages: · Violence between government and opposition forces persists in Libya with escalation at Wazin near the Libya-Tunisia border. · Demonstrations and protests are continuing in other countries in the region. An upcoming revised appeal will include Syria and Yemen. · As of 4 May, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) stated that 710,408 individuals have migrated from Libya to Tunisia, Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Niger and Sudan. Of these, over 339,223 individuals (48%) have arrived in Tunisia. To assist with the influx, activities of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) continue in Tunisia. · There has been a significant decrease in the number of third country nationals (TCNs) fleeing Libya into Tunisia. As of 4 May, 4,991 IFRC health delegate attends to a mother and her newborn baby who TCNs remain at the three transit camps near arrived at the Tunisian Red Crescent and International Federation of Ras Jdir in Tunisia, a reduction of 60% since Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies Al Hayet (Life or La Vie) the Operations Update of 12 April. Transit Camp after fleeing Libya. Tunisian Red Crescent · The number of Libyans crossing into Tunisia near the more southern border point at Dhehiba has increased with more than 44,000 people arriving since 6 April. Humanitarian organisations have opened two camps to provide people with food and other essential items at Dhehiba and Remada that is approximately 47 km further west within Tunisia. According to UNHCR on 4 May, the two camps are accommodating 2,421 Libyans, however the number fluctuates daily. · The Tunisian Red Crescent (TRC) and IFRC Al Hayet Transit Camp at Ras Jdir remains open. As of 4 May, 429 migrants were residing in the camp. The population has decreased in the last week due to a large number of repatriation flights for TCNs organised by IOM and an overall lower number of TCNs crossing at Ras Jdir. 2 · On 30 April, the TRC-IFRC Transit Camp encountered a severe sandstorm that destroyed 50% of its total tent capacity, mostly in the family area, and other parts of camp infrastructure. Families have been temporarily relocated to a different part of the camp while the IFRC coordinated with IOM to temporarily halt new arrivals while repairs to essential services were being made. · The TRC and IFRC are providing punctual assistance to support needs in southern Tunisia among Libyans staying at camps and among host families. Already the IFRC has provided tents to the UNHCR camp at Remada for a school and child-friendly space being implemented by the NGO Islamic Relief. · The IFRC is proceeding with a visit to Libya in the week ahead to assess needs, further prospects for an ongoing presence in the country and the conduct of additional humanitarian activities in cooperation with the Libyan Red Crescent Society (LRCS) and ICRC. The situation Fighting has escalated between government and opposition forces throughout Libya including at Benghazi, Misrata, Tripoli and Wazin. Shortages of fuel, food, medical supplies, money and other essential items have reached a critical level. Along with the Libyan Red Crescent Society, the ICRC is active throughout Libya. The UN and other humanitarian actors have also gained access in the country but mostly in its eastern half. On 1 May the UN withdrew its international staff from Tripoli due to intensified fighting in the area. According to IOM, more than 710,408 people have fled Libya into neighbouring countries including 339,223 to Tunisia since late February. While third country nationals (TCNs) crossing the border and needing assistance remains at an average of 350 per day, the number of Libyans migrating into Tunisia has jumped dramatically and most notably through the southern border point of Dhehiba. Of the 40,000 Libyans that have migrated since 6 April, the majority tend to stay among host families in the towns of Remada, Medenine and Tataouine. Approximately 2,421 Libyans are also at two camps - one at Dhehiba and another at Remada. Since the violence in Libya began, IOM has provided flight assistance for TCNs to return to their home countries. As of 4 May, more than 171,545 people have been repatriated from Tunisia. The flights continue, although sometimes sporadically, but with an average of roughly 300 people departing per day. There is still a great need for repatriation flights since 2,501 TCNs are still residing among the three transit camps being operated by the TRC-IFRC, UAE Red Crescent and UNHCR at Ras Jdir. In the meantime, TCNs continue to arrive in Tunisia. There are also approximately 2,500 persons of concern, from countries such as Somalia and Eritrea, being handled by UNHCR that are unable to return to their home countries. The TRC-IFRC Al Hayet (Life or La Vie) Transit Camp has reached a cumulative total of more than 4,100 TCN occupants since it opened on 6 April. As of 4 May, 429 migrants were present at the camp awaiting transportation assistance from IOM. 3 The TRC-IFRC Transit Camp population is lower than in previous days due to a recent increase in IOM repatriation flights and decrease in TCN border crossings. The drop in number of TCN migrants is due to their lack of access to the Libyan border with Tunisia. On 30 April, the TRC-IFRC Transit Camp suffered destruction to tents and infrastructure due to a severe sandstorm. Another sandstorm hit on 2 May halting the repairs and reconstruction in addition to damaging more tents and the food distribution area. Despite the damage, individuals and families staying at the camp still have access to safe water, sanitation services, three meals each day, family linking services, a basic health Damage to the TRC-IFRC Al Hayet Transit Camp near the Ras Jdir clinic and playground. All individuals at the border after the first sandstorm. Yasser Hajji/Tunisian Red Transit Camp received another round of essential Crescent non-food items such as soap, buckets and blankets the day after the first storm. The TRC continues to assist the population in the UNHCR Shousha Camp in collaboration with the ICRC to distribute items such as blankets, soap, buckets, toothbrushes, toothpaste and other in-kind donations. To date, the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement has reached more than 35,800 people in transit at Shousha Camp with essential goods. The TRC has also worked with the ICRC to facilitate more than 45,000 calls between migrants and their families around the world. The TRC continues to provide basic health care to the sick and injured in Shousha Camp and at the Libya-Tunisia border while working with the IFRC and ICRC to improve sanitation facilities Children play on a newly constructed teeter-totter in the family area of and deliver safe water. the Al Hayet Transit Camp near the Ras Jdir border. Mark Münkel/Danish Red Cross Coordination and partnerships The IFRC Zone Office at Amman and Regional Representative at Tunis responded to the current humanitarian situation by deploying staff, assets and participating in regular coordination meetings with the TRC and ICRC. Along with interaction at the Tunisian border with Libya, the overall result has been effective cooperation and relations. TRC and IFRC staff and volunteers are actively participating in the humanitarian coordination mechanisms with agencies working in the border region. Excellent coordination has occurred between the Red Cross/Red Crescent Movement, the UN System, NGOs, community representatives, local authorities. As part of its close cooperation, the ICRC is also providing family linking services in the Al Hayet Transit Camp and collaborating on non-food item stock provision as needed. The following National Societies are supporting the Red Cross/Red Crescent response through financial, in- kind and/or human resources: Algerian Red Crescent, American Red Cross, Austrian Red Cross, Belgian Red Cross, British Red Cross, Bulgarian Red Cross, Canadian Red Cross, Chinese Red Cross, Danish Red Cross, Finnish Red Cross, French Red Cross, German Red Cross, Iranian Red Crescent, Italian Red Cross, Japanese Red Cross, Jordan National Red Crescent Society, Kuwait Red Crescent Society, Lebanese Red Cross, Luxemburg Red Cross, Moroccan Red Crescent, New Zealand Red Cross, Netherlands Red Cross, Norwegian Red Cross, Palestinian Red Crescent, Qatar Red Crescent Society, Spanish Red Cross, Swedish Red Cross, Swiss Red Cross, Syrian Red Crescent, and the United Arab Emirates Red Crescent. 4 Red Cross and Red Crescent action Progress towards outcomes Activities under the current Appeal aim to provide sustained support for the arrival and departure of people in transit as well as augmenting services as the need arises. The bulk of the TRC-IFRC emergency operation is focused on providing support to the vulnerable population leaving Libya through the borders with Tunisia and Egypt while other geographical areas of activity are also being considered.