Contact with authorities in Sebha have revealed that migrants, mainly Chadians but also including some Nigeriens, Nigerians and others, have sought protection at the IOM centre from the growing fighting between rival forces on the outskirts of the town.
However, with no electricity, fuel, and little food and water, the situation for the migrants and those in the town is becoming increasingly difficult.
IOM is particularly concerned over this group of Sub-Saharan African migrants as there is no longer any political infrastructure in Sebha that would be able to support the migrants while plans are put into place to evacuate the migrants.
Sebha, a Gaddafi stronghold, has an airport from where IOM successfully evacuated nearly 1,400 vulnerable Chadian and other migrant nationalities in July. Among them were many women, children and the elderly who had fled areas around Tripoli, Misrata, Benghazi and Sebha itself.
However, with the likelihood of an all-out assault on Sebha, this route may not be feasible.
For further information, please contact Jean Philippe Chauzy, Tel: + 41 22 717 9361/+41 79 285 4366, Email: jpchauzy@iom.int or Jemini Pandya, IOM Geneva, Tel: + 41 22 717 9486/+ 41 79 217 3374 Email: jpandya@iom.int
