On Saturday, the Libyan Red Crescent (LRC) voiced an urgent humanitarian appeal to assist migrants grappling with severe hardships along the Libyan-Tunisian border.
In a statement, via its official Facebook page, the LRC revealed that the migrants are experiencing desperate humanitarian conditions and living under harsh circumstances. They require essential protections, nourishment, medical aid, and immediate assistance.
The LRC’s General Secretariat initiated an appeal for comprehensive, coordinated humanitarian aid. In tandem, the organisation is collaborating with United Nations (UN) agencies to mobilise emergency humanitarian aid through LRC teams positioned in the Libya-Tunisia border region.
Additionally, the LRC rallied for collective action, inviting everyone to come forward and provide help to these individuals in desperate need under challenging circumstances. The organisation underscored the urgency of this situation and the critical role of unified global and national responses in addressing this escalating humanitarian crisis effectively.
Libya, situated in North Africa, is a key transit country for migrants and refugees seeking to reach Europe from sub-Saharan Africa and the Middle East. This flow of migrants has increased dramatically since 2011 following the overthrow of the long-time Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi and the resulting political instability and insecurity.
The precarious journey migrants undertake is fraught with risks, including exploitation, abuse, and dangerous sea crossings. Those who fail to make it across the Mediterranean Sea often find themselves trapped in Libya in dire conditions, facing human rights abuses, or detained in centers with limited access to basic necessities like food, water, and medical care.
The Libya-Tunisia border is a significant locus of migratory flows, with migrants attempting to cross into Tunisia, a relatively more stable country. However, here too, migrants are subjected to arduous conditions and face challenges including a lack of essential resources and protective measures.
The LRC is a humanitarian organisation working to alleviate the suffering of these vulnerable individuals. It operates in collaboration with global partners like the UN and other humanitarian agencies to provide necessary assistance to these migrants.
