Date: 25 Mar 2011
25 March 2011
Islamic Relief is assisting with the repatriation of Egyptian nationals as part of our emergency response, as well as continuing to support people who aren't able to return home yet.Islamic Relief, one of the first agencies to respond to the Libya crisis, is providing special flights to get hundreds of displaced Egyptians home safely.
Hundreds of thousands of people - migrant workers in particular - fled Libya when the country's government responded violently to an anti-government uprising. As violence and unrest continues, many thousands remain stranded in transitional camps on the Tunisian-Libyan border.
Currently, around 14,000 people are being supported at Shosha camp by Islamic Relief, in conjunction with UNHCR. People of many different nationalities have been living in the camp as they wait for help to complete their journey back to their home countries.
Moustafa Osman, Head of Humanitarian Department at Islamic Relief Worldwide, said: "Many people in the camp don't have the means or capacity to return to their home countries without assistance. It's absolutely crucial that we help as many people as we can, to continue their onward journey home. That's why Islamic Relief is assisting with the repatriation of Egyptian nationals as part of our emergency response, as well as continuing to support people who aren't able to return home yet."
Islamic Relief has already chartered flights to get almost 300 people Egyptians safely home, with further flights scheduled for the days ahead.
The charity's emergency response to date has seen it deliver food and medical supplies to Benghazi, in eastern Libya, and provide emergency aid and medical assistance to more than 40,000 people on the western border with Tunisia.
