The Prime Minister of Libya’s Interim Government, Abdullah Al-Thinni, issued immediate orders to arrange housing for 650 Libyan citizens stuck on Libya’s border with Tunisia after the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) denied them entry following the closing of borders in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Libyan citizens were stranded in the Ras Jadir border crossing, on their way to Libya from different countries around the world. Unfortunately, their arrival to the border town of Ras Jadir coincided with the closure of all borders in both directions last Thursday as part of the measures taken by Libyan and Tunisian authorities to stop the spread of the Coronavirus.
According to reports, Tunisian authorities facilitated the exit procedures for Libyan citizens —leading to the accumulation of travelers in the neutral zone on the Libyan-Tunisian border.
Mohammed Abdullah Al-Khattabi, Director of Sabratha Security, revealed on Friday that the GNA did not conduct the necessary medical examinations on some travellers who managed to slip into the country despite the border closure.