Reply #123: Thousands of Chadian Migrants Stranded in Southern Libyan Desert

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Thousands of Chadian Migrants Stranded in Southern Libyan Desert
Kim Lewis June 28, 2011

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) says it is racing against time trying to save the lives of about 2,000 Chadian migrants in southern Libya. It says they’re mostly women, children and the elderly in desperate need of food, water, shelter and medical aid.

They have been stranded in the towns of Sebha and Gatroun for the past five to seven weeks because of clashes between government and rebel forces. They’re prey to bandits and have no way to get out of the area.

“They’ve been living in very difficult conditions outdoors,” said Jean-Philippe Chauzy of the IOM in Geneva. “During the day the temperature is very, very hot. It is cold at night. Those migrants have little to no access to food, water, sanitation, medical assistance,” which he said is why there is a sense of urgency.

They are desperate to get home, said Chauzy, but have not been able to because of conditions between Gatroun and the Chadian border. As a result the IOM has been working to return the group to Chad.

more... http://www.voanews.com/english/news/africa/lewis-libya-migrants-28jun11-124652944.html
Includes audio report(VOA).

Race against time to save lives of thousands of migrants stranded in southern Libya
Report— International Organization for Migration

Thousands of stranded migrants, including large numbers of women and children, are in desperate need of immediate food, water, shelter and medical assistance after having spent many weeks living in the open in the southern Libyan desert, an IOM assessment team has found as the Organization looks into ways to evacuate them to safety.

So far, more than 2,000 Chadian migrants have been discovered by IOM in Gatroun and Sebha, though these figures could grow as the team continues with its assessment in the area.

"Time is of the essence," says IOM's Dr. Qasim Sufi, leading the assessment mission to Southern Libya which began late last week. "The migrants are in a very bad state after having existed so long like this. Conditions for them are brutal in the desert heat with no protection from the sun, wind or sand and no access to water, food or sanitation."

Up until now, the migrants' survival has been largely due to whatever supplies other Chadian migrants passing through have been able to spare.
Report
—
International Organization for Migration

Thousands of stranded migrants, including large numbers of women and children, are in desperate need of immediate food, water, shelter and medical assistance after having spent many weeks living in the open in the southern Libyan desert, an IOM assessment team has found as the Organization looks into ways to evacuate them to safety.

So far, more than 2,000 Chadian migrants have been discovered by IOM in Gatroun and Sebha, though these figures could grow as the team continues with its assessment in the area.

"Time is of the essence," says IOM's Dr. Qasim Sufi, leading the assessment mission to Southern Libya which began late last week. "The migrants are in a very bad state after having existed so long like this. Conditions for them are brutal in the desert heat with no protection from the sun, wind or sand and no access to water, food or sanitation."

Up until now, the migrants' survival has been largely due to whatever supplies other Chadian migrants passing through have been able to spare.

more... http://reliefweb.int/node/422670

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Somewhere here I saw a report that the remaining Gaddafi forces were concentrated at one of the two main airports nearby, so it's not clear how that would effect relief and evacuation flights, if at all.