Money, food running out for Sudanese stranded in Libya

Thousands of Sudanese nationals stranded in the port city of Tobruk on Libya’s Mediterranean coast have been waiting two months for evacuation, and are suffering from a humanitarian crisis.

Speaking to Radio Dabanga from Tobruk, just 120 kilometres from the Egyptian border, one of the stranded Sudanese, Mohammed Salih complained of Khartoum’s inaction regarding the stranded group. He pointed out that the people are running out of money and resources fast. This had created “difficult humanitarian and health conditions”.

The Sudanese Foreign Ministry has acknowledged the existence of 1,200 Sudanese stranded in Tobruk that the Libyan authorities say they are “working to resolve the” problem, however Salih described the allegations of the Foreign Ministry as “lies misleading public opinion”.

He told Radio Dabanga that the Sudanese authorities have not inquired about them or visited them to identify and resolve their problem for the past two months.

He appealed to the Sudanese and Libyan authorities to intervene to resolve their problem by evacuating them.

Attacks

Tens of thousands of Sudanese left their home country to find a livelihood in Libya. Khartoum reportedly did not respond to the request of thousands of Sudanese who called for support with their repatriation as they were stuck between the warring parties. A number of Sudanese were killed in attacks.

Mediterranean

Every year, thousands of Sudanese brave the arduous journey northwards in the hope of finding a passage to Europe across the Mediterranean. They then face the very real danger of drowning at sea, as the boats used by unscrupulous traffickers are often overloaded and unseaworthy. European navies patrol the waters between Libya and Europe to deter the migration.

In March this year, more than 45 Darfuris died when the boat carrying them from Libya to Europe sank.