APPEAL

This is an open appeal to:

    * The Secretariat of the Eritrean Democratic Alliance (E.D.A.) and, through it, to its member organizations
    * The two factions of the EPDP
    * Eritrean National Commission for Democratic Change (E.N.C.D.C.)
    * Eritrean Civic Organizations
    * Eritrean NGOs
    * U.N. Organizations
    * U.N.H.C.R. Libya
    * The European Commission
    * Red Cross Libya
    * The Economic, Social and Cultural Council - African Union
    * Intergovernmental Authority for Development (IGAD)
    * Other International NGOs
    * Eritrean Online newspapers
    * Individuals

I should like to share with my readers the following information on the Eritrean refugees in Libya, which was posted on Face book by the Eritrean National Commission for Democratic Change (E.N.C.D.C.):

“For all Eritreans in Libya we are with you: for emergency please contact the RED CROSS in Libya at these numbers: 218917422663, 2186193484, 218213314131, 218612225116.”

I should also like to add the following quotation:

GENEVA: Reuters, GENEVA, Mon Feb 28, 2011 - Many citizens of Iraq, Sudan, Somalia and other poor countries are stranded in Libya as they lack the resources to escape, U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees Antonio Guterres said Monday.

Richer nations have managed to evacuate thousands of their nationals by air and by sea.

But, said UNHCR chief Antonio Guterres, many foreign workers and refugees have been unable to leave and fear for their lives.

"There are no planes and boats to evacuate people originating from war-torn or very poor countries," he said in a statement.

More than 110,000 people have crossed land borders from Libya to Tunisia and Egypt so far, he estimated. Most have been Egyptians and Tunisians who were working in Libya, and some Libyans and people of other nationalities have managed to get out.

But some have been targeted for abuse or attack, Guterres said.

"Africans seem to be particularly at risk as they are being associated with foreign mercenaries," he said.

The International Organization for Migration estimates about 1.5 million undocumented migrant workers from Africa and Asia are currently in Libya.
The above two quotes indicate the urgency of the situation in which the Eritrean refugees find themselves and, at the same time, the powerlessness of the U.N.H.C.R. and other concerned AID organizations to solve the situation. It is not only a question of money and the means of transport as the above report from Reuters suggests. The Eritrean refugees are being confused for mercenaries and are indiscriminately attacked by agitated and nervous mobs. Already one person has been shot dead and two others wounded. Those in Benghazi are said to be holed up in the basement of a building with no outside contact, while the number of those stranded in Misurate, Sabha and other cities is not known. The problem is two edged: the Eritrean refugees cannot venture outside and cross the border to Egypt, while the work of U.N.H.C.R. and other NGOs is completely disrupted inside Libya, which makes it difficult for them to contact the refugees. The Red Cross, Libya whose telephone numbers are indicated above may have people on the ground, somewhere in Libya but surely not in Benghazi. The question remains how the information indicated above (E.N.C.D.C.) could reach the Eritrean refugees. Carrying computers and going online, aside to being completely unthinkable in a situation like that, are beyond the reaches of a refugee. Nor could they visit an Internet café even if the situation was normal enough as to allow one. So, in reality, the refugees are simply stranded and no news is reaching them. Therefore, the above quoted appeal from E.N.C.D.C. is of no help. I am sure that the intention of the E.N.C.D.C. is to help the refugees but, with all due respect, their announcement does not seem to realize the condition the refugees are in. Unless the Red Cross or any other AID organization in Libya tries to reach them there is no way that they can know of the help that is available for them. The second problem is that there is no order, no responsible leadership in Libya to submit this complaint to. The country is simply in a state of frenzy and mess.

 In a situation like this, it is difficult to make any suggestions other than appealing to the above mentioned organizations to use all their resources and contacts to make this issue known to all concerned bodies and, through them, apply as much pressure as possible on the existing leadership of the popular movement n Libya so that the refugees are provided with a safe passage to either Egypt or Tunisia. U.N. organizations like the U.N.H.C.R., U.N. Human Rights Council, U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, U.N. Commission for Human Rights, the E.U. Commission, Red Cross Libya, other international NGOs, and Libyan delegations to the United Nations (New York and Geneva) could help and should be contacted immediately. Community organizations of Libyans living abroad can also provide effective help through contacting members of the leadership of the opposition in Libya.

Another possible instrument of pressure is appealing to Islamic religious authorities in the area. Such authorities, if properly sensitized, can issue a ‘Fatwa’ preventing the indiscriminate killing of black Africans in liberated Libya. Considering the power that such an appeal could have on individual Moslems, it could in fact be the most effective instrument. After all, this problem concerns a Moslem country and all Moslems should cooperate in solving it in a Moslem way.

 Berekhetab Habtemariam (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.)