Hundreds of Tunisians stranded in Libya try to break through border to return home
Tunis, Tunisia (PANA) – About 400 Tunisians stranded in Libya on Monday forced the border point of Ras Jedir, breaking the main gate before being driven back by the Tunisian security and armed forces, Tunisian security sources said.
The Tunisian security authorities began repatriating the first wave of Tunisians stranded at the border (200 in number), the majority of whom are women, children and the elderly considered as priority for staying for a long time in difficult conditions.
The repatriation operation is accompanied with strict security and health measures imposed by the ongoing situation linked to terrorism and the spread of the Covid-19, added the sources.
The Tunisian authorities fear the infiltration of the area by alleged extremist fighters, particularly following the release of hundreds of detainees from Libyan prisons.
The chairman of the Tunisian human rights watchdog, Moustapha Abdelkrim, said in that respect that the strict control applied at the border ‘’was imposed following the presence of several people deprived of passports and the security troubles in Libya where several prison doors were thrown open as fighting resumed in the western part of the country.
-0- PANA YY/IN/BEH/MSA/VAO 20April2020
