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Libya Border Guards Rescue Migrants In Desert

Migrants from sub-Saharan African countries were found in an uninhabited area near the Tunisia-Libya border where they say they were dumped by authorities Mahmud Turkia - AFP
Migrants from sub-Saharan African countries were found in an uninhabited area near the Tunisia-Libya border where they say they were dumped by authorities Mahmud Turkia - AFP
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Libya Border Guards Rescue Migrants In Desert

Migrants from sub-Saharan African countries were found in an uninhabited area near the Tunisia-Libya border where they say they were dumped by authorities Mahmud Turkia - AFP
Migrants from sub-Saharan African countries were found in an uninhabited area near the Tunisia-Libya border where they say they were dumped by authorities Mahmud Turkia - AFP

Libyan border guards have rescued dozens of migrants in the desert, an officer said Sunday.

An AFP team at the Libyan-Tunisian border saw migrants who were visibly exhausted and dehydrated, sitting or lying on the sand and using shrubs to try and shield themselves from the scorching summer heat that topped 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit).

The group were in an uninhabited area close to Al-Assah, a town near the Tunisia-Libya border, nearly 150 kilometres (93 miles) west of Tripoli.

"The number of migrants keep rising every day," said Mohamad Abou Snenah of the border patrol unit, telling AFP they have rescued "50 to 70 migrants".

"We offer them medical attention, first aid, considering the journey they have made through the desert."

At a reception center, AFP correspondents saw a group of women and children, including toddlers, lying on mattresses and eating yogurt.

The port of Sfax is a departure point for many migrants from impoverished and violence-torn countries seeking a better life in Europe by making a perilous Mediterranean crossing, often in makeshift boats.

In Libya, human traffickers have long profited from the chaos since the 2011 overthrow of strongman Moamer Kadhafi, and the country has faced accusations over migrant abuse.

Tunisian rights groups said on Friday that between 100 and 150 migrants, including women and children, were still stuck on the border with Libya.

The Tunisian Red Crescent said it has provided shelter to more than 600 migrants who had been taken after July 3 to the militarized zone of Ras Jedir north of Al-Assah on the Mediterranean coast.

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Arab World

UN Warns of Profound Liquidity Crisis in Yemen’s Houthi-Controlled Areas

For the first time, the Houthis will face difficulties in financial transfers and foreign currency supply (local media)
For the first time, the Houthis will face difficulties in financial transfers and foreign currency supply (local media)
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UN Warns of Profound Liquidity Crisis in Yemen’s Houthi-Controlled Areas

For the first time, the Houthis will face difficulties in financial transfers and foreign currency supply (local media)
For the first time, the Houthis will face difficulties in financial transfers and foreign currency supply (local media)

A UN program recently warned of low foreign currency reserves and a liquidity crisis in Houthi-controlled areas if the economic conflict with the internationally recognized government continues in Yemen.

It also noted that the poor food consumption significantly worsened in the north, increasing by 78% year-on-year, compared to a 52% increase in the south.

In its Food Security Update, the World Food Program (WFP) warned that a banking crisis is looming in Yemen, as a transaction ban has been announced between the intentionally recognized government and the Houthis-controlled areas.

“These developments, coupled with diminished foreign currency reserves in the north, could result in liquidity crisis with profound implications on markets, livelihoods, and food security situation,” it said.

The Program also noted that the current escalation in the “economic conflict” is likely to disrupt the flow of remittances and the overall financial and banking sectors, posing significant challenges for importers to procure essential food and non-food items, and ultimately impacting food supply and food price.

According to the WFP Update, this conflict comes while limited income opportunities are a key challenge to accessing food, reported by 71% in the north and 60% in the south.

It added that the depth and severity of food deprivation (poor food consumption) also peaked in May, at 32% in the north and 31% in the south.

This trend significantly worsened in the north, increasing by 78% year-on-year, compared to a 52% increase in the south.

Severe food deprivation reached an all-time high in Al Jawf, Al Bayda, Hajjah, Amran, and Al Hodeidah, WFP said.

Around 8% of households in the north reported relying on begging to meet their essential needs, compared to three percent in the south, it showed, adding that this practice was particularly pronounced in Sadah, Hajjah, Amran, and Al Bayda.

WFP also said the total volume of fuel imported via the Red Sea ports increased by 32% during Jan-May 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.

Fuel imports via the southern ports of Aden and Mukalla decreased by 41% year-on-year, as local crude oil production from Marib largely contributes to covering domestic fuel needs in government controlled areas.

However, the WFP update said it is crucial to closely monitor import flows over the coming months, especially given the increased insurance costs for Yemeni ports, the diminished foreign currency reserves, and the banking crisis.

Also, by the end of May 2024, WFP said that the Yemeni riyal (YER) depreciated to an all-time low of YER 1,749 per dollar in government-controlled areas, losing around 25% of its value against the US dollar year-on-year.

“This decline is primarily attributed to low foreign currency reserves and revenue shortages due to reduced crude oil exports,” it said.

The UN program also noted that the overall volume of food imports via all Yemeni seaports increased by 22% during the first five months of 2024 compared to the same period in 2023.

However, it showed that the Red Sea ports saw a 35% annual rise in food imports during Jan-May 2024, while the southern ports of Aden and Mukalla exhibited a 16% annual decline.