Chad refugees still stranded in Libya

05/04/11 00:23 CET

world news

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Hundreds of workers from Chad are still stranded in Libya. When the fighting started, their impoverished government was unable to evacuate them.

They fled to a camp near Benghazi, many getting lost en route and families becoming divided. Once there, they needed to sell what they had to raise the money to get to Egypt.

Their plight was made worse as the mercenaries being used by Gaddafi come from Chad and they were in daily danger of being attacked.

More reports from our correspondent:

01.04 - Retreating rebels play waiting game in the desert
01.04 - Libyan rebels list their terms for ceasefire
31.03 - euronews on the run with Libya’s rebel forces
30.03 - A night in the desert with the Libyan rebels

To get to the Egyptian border costs the equivalent of 90 euros. It is money that many refugees just do not have.

Euronews reporter Mustafa Bag said there were 1,500 refugees left in the camp where sanitary conditions and overcrowding were making life difficult.

Those lucky enough to raise sufficient money are be taken to the Egyptian border but it is just the start of a difficult journey. Libya’s Red Cross has called on the EU and other organisations to help get the refugees home.

More about: Armed conflicts, Benghazi, Chad, Libya, Muammar Gaddafi, Refugees

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