Zarzis, Tunisia opens it arms to Libyan refugees

Numerous security and logistical arrangements are required in order to reach the Libyan capital of Tripoli.  This is the city that we were supposed to reach on Wednesday morning, but our journey is going to be delayed.  This delay has also affected the Tunisian delegation which has been sent to protect Libyan children’s rights.  They have been forced to wait in the city of Zarzis, as they too were unable get to Tripoli on Wednesday morning.  The city of Zarzis is located in the south-east of Tunisia, 540km from the capital, Tunis, and is located on a peninsular surrounded by the Mediterranean.  Against the backdrop of the Libyan crisis, this town has turned into a “tourist” destination for thousands of families fleeing from the war that has been underway for more than four months.  Nothing here suggests that you are in a Tunisian city.  In fact, standing here you are certain that you haven’t crossed the Tunisian-Libyan border, because all the cars’ number plates say the “Republic of Libya”.  In light of the crisis currently being experienced by the Tunisian tourism sector, which is "trying to salvage what it can of the season by opening its doors to the brothers from the neighbouring country of Libya." Abdul Salam Ali, who introduced himself as a hotel supervisor told "Arabs Today": "The Libyan crisis has saved us from closing our doors this year.  All rooms are reserved for a period of no less than two months.  With regards to the Libyan regime, we offer the same treatment and charge the same rates for both supporters and opponents of the regime alike."  The youth hostel in Zarzis opened its doors to establish a Libyan refugee shelter which is now housing nearly 120 members of Libyan families who have fled from the regions of Alzentan and Rahibat.  He said that the director of the Zarzis youth, is providing accommodation, subsistence, and medical services for the refugees.  It has provided the youth hostel space which opened its doors to Libyan refugees on the first of May, offering services to Libyan families, and medical and social services to both the elderly and children, in cooperation with specialist volunteers. He added:"All the families who have fled from the crisis have the necessary care”, and recounted a touching story about a Libyan mother who gave birth to a baby girl there, naming her "Victory". More care is needed given the presence of children and students that have dropped out of school, and Taj El-Din stated: "The youth hostel is preparing to give them classes in Media and Languages, and is planning to allocate them a football field, as well as allowing them to enter kindergarten.  This is in order to cope with the children in the city, in an attempt to help them escape from a state of anxiety and mental illness brought about by fear.  The administration is also planning to call on psychologists and social workers to council the families." Suffering is the common denominator that brings the Libyan refugees who have fled their homes together, whether they are for or against Gaddafi.  However, what unites everyone is a sense of joy, because entering Tunisian territory, even for an unknown period of time, puts an end to the Libyan nightmare that they were living through, and that threatened their fate.  Some are thinking of returning before the agreement of a peaceful solution, which they believe would be achieved through the implementation of a comprehensive cease-fire.  Zarzis has recruited all its available land to provide support for the refugees with their various affiliations.  For example, a football pitch has been provided for the Tunisian armed forces, and has been converted into a military hospital field which provides treatment and services such as medical examinations, surgery, and rehabilitation to the refugees. The people of Zarzis who spoke to "Arabs Today" confirmed that "Contrary to what is happening on the Island of Djerba, only ten km from Zarazis, we have not recorded any incidents caused by Libyans."  A man who works in the field of public transport said symbolically, "There is mutual respect between us and the Libyans.  We work as much as we can to alleviate their suffering and to support them during these difficult times that Libya is going through.  We don't expect any reward or thanks."  He added: "Contrary to what has been recorded on the Island of Djerba, where a few groups of Libyans have been behaving badly in an attempt to discredit the revolution in their homeland, our city has not reported any instances of negative behavior by Libyans."       The south-east of Tunisia includes a number of camps, which are being managed by the Tunisian Army in cooperation with Arab and international humanitarian organizations.  Among the most prominent of these camps is Al-Shousha camp, which since last Tuesday has housed 2,688 refugees.  The "Gold Emirates” camp has housed 860 refugees, and the camps run by the Crescent and the International Red Cross have also housed a large number of refugees.  Three camps for families also contain 1003 refugees and the camp "UAE Gold" has 803 refugees, while the camp in Tataouine province holds 672 refugees, and the youth hostel Baldoarat in Tataouine contains 273 refugees.  A remarkable increase in the number of Libyans arriving at the Tunisian borders has been recorded - particularly families.  Most of the arrivals at the border crossing are women who have driven themselves there, carrying with them their children and family members. The total number of refugees crossing over from Libya is 7,000, while there is a clear decline in the number of Libyans who are preparing to return to their country.