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THE UN refugee agency said on Sunday that close to 100,000 people, mainly foreign migrants, have fled Libya to neighbouring countries by land during the past week of turmoil in the North African nation.
'UNHCR emergency teams are working with Tunisian and Egyptian authorities and NGOs (non governmental organisations) to support close to 100,000 people that have fled the violence in Libya in the past week,' the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said in a statement.
A UNHCR count showed that they were overwhelmingly foreign migrants, mainly Egyptians and Tunisians. However, the total also included 4,600 Libyans who fled to Egypt and Tunisia.
The Red Crescent said earlier that more than 10,000 people fled Libya into Tunisia at the Ras Jedir post on Saturday alone, calling the situation a 'humanitarian crisis' as the flow grew.
Before those arrivals, the Tunisian government said on Saturday that 40,000 people had crossed from Libya since February 20, while Egyptian authorities accounted for 55,000 people fleeing since February 19, according to the UNHCR.
'We are committed to assisting Tunisia and Egypt in helping each and every person fleeing Libya,' the High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres, said. 'We call upon the international community to respond quickly and generously to enable these governments to cope with this humanitarian emergency,' he added.
'UNHCR emergency teams are working with Tunisian and Egyptian authorities and NGOs (non governmental organisations) to support close to 100,000 people that have fled the violence in Libya in the past week,' the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees said in a statement.
A UNHCR count showed that they were overwhelmingly foreign migrants, mainly Egyptians and Tunisians. However, the total also included 4,600 Libyans who fled to Egypt and Tunisia.
The Red Crescent said earlier that more than 10,000 people fled Libya into Tunisia at the Ras Jedir post on Saturday alone, calling the situation a 'humanitarian crisis' as the flow grew.
Before those arrivals, the Tunisian government said on Saturday that 40,000 people had crossed from Libya since February 20, while Egyptian authorities accounted for 55,000 people fleeing since February 19, according to the UNHCR.
'We are committed to assisting Tunisia and Egypt in helping each and every person fleeing Libya,' the High Commissioner for Refugees, Antonio Guterres, said. 'We call upon the international community to respond quickly and generously to enable these governments to cope with this humanitarian emergency,' he added.
