Skype supports UNHCR Libya Appeal – how you can help
By donating to UNHCR now you can help to provide emergency aid to tens of thousands of people fleeing into Tunisia and Egypt to escape the violence in Libya.
Back in December, Skype announced a partnership with UNHCR, including support for fundraising and emergency relief efforts.
Since violence started in Libya UNHCR reported that 105,000 people have fled from Libya into Tunisia and some 101,000 to Egypt over the past 14 days. UNHCR immediately deployed emergency teams to provide humanitarian support on the ground.
Tunisia: Tents for thousands at the border.
At the Libya-Tunisia border, the situation was reaching a crisis point last Tuesday, March 1, with an estimated 10,000-15,000 new people arriving daily. UNHCR urgently dispatched tents to the Tunisian border and distributed 20,000 mattresses. UNHCR teams also set up a camp to host some 12,000 people.
To avoid a humanitarian crisis, UNHCR appealed to the international community for massive humanitarian evacuation for people fleeing Libya into Tunisia. As a result, more than 50 flights were organised on Thursday to take migrant workers, mostly Egyptians, back home. A total of around 12,500 people still need evacuation.
As of Friday, the number of civilians fleeing to Tunisia had dropped significantly, down to approximately 2,000 people per day. The sudden decline in people fleeing Libya into Tunisia has sparked new concerns that the security situation in Libya may be preventing people from crossing the border.
On the other side of Libya, people have also been crossing to Egypt. UNHCR has distributed relief items and food to help people in need. In eastern Libya, UNHCR has sent medical supplies and food. Staff in Tripoli have kept their office open for refugees, offering assistance to those able to reach the office and have been manning a 24-hour hotline. The hotline continues to receive desperate calls from refugees in Libya, saying they feel trapped and threatened, and from family members outside who worry for their beloved ones.
Since the beginning of the conflict more than 200,000 people have fled from Libya. You can help them now by donating to UNHCR emergency relief efforts.
