While dozens of countries are evacuating their nationals by air or by sea, Libyans and Tunisians but also thousands of Egyptians are in a hurry on the roads to flee Libya. Crescent suggests a risk of mass exodus, and Europe is preparing to face a major humanitarian crisis on its doorstep. "5700 Tunisians and Libyans who fled Libya crossed the border between the two countries at Ras Jedir Monday and Tuesday.
They continue to happen," said Hadi Nadriun responsible for Crescent area Guerdane Ben, the first city after the border. "After what Gaddafi said yesterday there is a catastrophic risk" of mass exodus, "said the official. "We expect thousands Libyan refugee who will enter Tunisia. We expect the worst." The European Commission expressed its concern about the risk side of a humanitarian disaster and has sent experts to the Tunisian and Egyptian borders to assess needs in an exodus.
"We do not yet face a humanitarian crisis in Libya, but that does not mean that we are not concerned because the situation is very unstable and constantly changing," said Raphael Brigandi, spokesman of the Commissioner responsible for humanitarian aid, Kristalina Georgieva. "We decided to send several of our experts in Tunisia and Egypt and we are ready to send an expert to Tripoli, where security conditions are ensured," said the spokesman.
He said he did not have data yet on the arrival of refugees in Egypt, while the chief diplomat of the European Union, Catherine Ashton, was in the country on Tuesday. "We have not released any funds for the moment and we will do when needs have been identified," he added. Six countries in Southeast Europe, the gateway to a possible mass influx of migrants from Libya, rallied on Wednesday with a meeting of their interior ministers in Rome on the eve of a meeting in Brussels.
Italy, France, Spain, Greece, Cyprus and Malta have requested the establishment of a special fund to tackle the problem of illegal immigration from North Africa. "We will ask the meeting Thursday in Brussels" of all 27 EU countries "to establish a special solidarity fund for countries that support the main migration flows following the crisis in Africa North ", told the press the Italian Interior Minister Roberto Maroni, after the meeting.
Mr Maroni also assured that the six countries will seek "a common European asylum system and sustainable." "To translate into practice the principle of solidarity, we ask for specific programs [...] such as sharing with other European countries costs arising from home that we, as neighboring countries, are taking," said Maroni, indicating that the six countries had decided "to create a working group and for ongoing cooperation to exchange information and mutual assistance in case of immediate crisis." For Italy, the stakes are high.
Rome claimed to fear a wave of at least 200 000-300 000 immigrants if the regime fell. A "biblical exodus," "ten times more than the phenomenon of ethnic Albanians in the 1990s," predicted the foreign minister, Franco Frattini. A treaty signed in August 2008 between Italy and Libya has resulted, according to Italian authorities, the 94% decrease in landings of illegal immigrants in Italy, with a policy of immediate discharge, also criticized by advocacy groups human rights.
The European Union has deployed since Sunday mission "Hermes" Frontex (European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders), which includes support naval and aerial surveillance of borders. Besides the support of the European Agency, Rome has officially requested assistance from 100 million to address the wave of migrants.
On this point, Brussels has not yet responded. The European Commission also takes very seriously the threats by the Libyan authorities to cease all cooperation with the EU in the fight against illegal immigration. But so far, all meetings in Brussels on this issue have highlighted the division within the Union.
France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Finland and Sweden have raised an objection of inadmissibility to the Commission's proposals to "share the burden" of processing asylum applications. "The solidarity within the EU is on a voluntary basis," said Michele Cercone, spokesman for the Commissioner for Immigration and Security, Cecilia Malmström.
The situation would, however, particular for those parts of Libya to escape the violence. "The Commission may propose to grant them temporary protection for a year," said Michele Cercone. "This opportunity has never been used so far," he said. It can also invoke Article 78 of EU Treaty of Lisbon, which is used to unblock financial assistance in case of sudden influx of refugees in one or more Member States, "he added.
Both options, however, must be endorsed by a qualified majority by the Member States. 
They continue to happen," said Hadi Nadriun responsible for Crescent area Guerdane Ben, the first city after the border. "After what Gaddafi said yesterday there is a catastrophic risk" of mass exodus, "said the official. "We expect thousands Libyan refugee who will enter Tunisia. We expect the worst." The European Commission expressed its concern about the risk side of a humanitarian disaster and has sent experts to the Tunisian and Egyptian borders to assess needs in an exodus.
"We do not yet face a humanitarian crisis in Libya, but that does not mean that we are not concerned because the situation is very unstable and constantly changing," said Raphael Brigandi, spokesman of the Commissioner responsible for humanitarian aid, Kristalina Georgieva. "We decided to send several of our experts in Tunisia and Egypt and we are ready to send an expert to Tripoli, where security conditions are ensured," said the spokesman.
He said he did not have data yet on the arrival of refugees in Egypt, while the chief diplomat of the European Union, Catherine Ashton, was in the country on Tuesday. "We have not released any funds for the moment and we will do when needs have been identified," he added. Six countries in Southeast Europe, the gateway to a possible mass influx of migrants from Libya, rallied on Wednesday with a meeting of their interior ministers in Rome on the eve of a meeting in Brussels.
Italy, France, Spain, Greece, Cyprus and Malta have requested the establishment of a special fund to tackle the problem of illegal immigration from North Africa. "We will ask the meeting Thursday in Brussels" of all 27 EU countries "to establish a special solidarity fund for countries that support the main migration flows following the crisis in Africa North ", told the press the Italian Interior Minister Roberto Maroni, after the meeting.
Mr Maroni also assured that the six countries will seek "a common European asylum system and sustainable." "To translate into practice the principle of solidarity, we ask for specific programs [...] such as sharing with other European countries costs arising from home that we, as neighboring countries, are taking," said Maroni, indicating that the six countries had decided "to create a working group and for ongoing cooperation to exchange information and mutual assistance in case of immediate crisis." For Italy, the stakes are high.
Rome claimed to fear a wave of at least 200 000-300 000 immigrants if the regime fell. A "biblical exodus," "ten times more than the phenomenon of ethnic Albanians in the 1990s," predicted the foreign minister, Franco Frattini. A treaty signed in August 2008 between Italy and Libya has resulted, according to Italian authorities, the 94% decrease in landings of illegal immigrants in Italy, with a policy of immediate discharge, also criticized by advocacy groups human rights.
The European Union has deployed since Sunday mission "Hermes" Frontex (European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders), which includes support naval and aerial surveillance of borders. Besides the support of the European Agency, Rome has officially requested assistance from 100 million to address the wave of migrants.
On this point, Brussels has not yet responded. The European Commission also takes very seriously the threats by the Libyan authorities to cease all cooperation with the EU in the fight against illegal immigration. But so far, all meetings in Brussels on this issue have highlighted the division within the Union.
France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Finland and Sweden have raised an objection of inadmissibility to the Commission's proposals to "share the burden" of processing asylum applications. "The solidarity within the EU is on a voluntary basis," said Michele Cercone, spokesman for the Commissioner for Immigration and Security, Cecilia Malmström.
The situation would, however, particular for those parts of Libya to escape the violence. "The Commission may propose to grant them temporary protection for a year," said Michele Cercone. "This opportunity has never been used so far," he said. It can also invoke Article 78 of EU Treaty of Lisbon, which is used to unblock financial assistance in case of sudden influx of refugees in one or more Member States, "he added.
Both options, however, must be endorsed by a qualified majority by the Member States.
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