.- The refugee agency UN is preparing for a possible "significant exodus" from Libya on Tuesday urged neighboring countries in Europe and North Africa not to reject those fleeing the riots that left hundreds dead since last week. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is preparing to send emergency personnel and relief supplies, including tents and mobile hospitals to strengthen their presence in Egypt and Tunisia, said spokeswoman Sybella Wilkes.
"So far no we have seen a huge exodus. But we are very concerned on the basis of reports we are receiving widespread violence and violence and persecution of specific individuals that may cause significant exodus from Libya, "he said. The UNHCR office in Tunisia has reported that four thousand 500 people have crossed into the country from Libya, according to the spokesman.
Most were Tunisian citizens, but about 650 were from other countries, including Libya and Algeria. The agency is developing contingency plans, but is hampered by communication difficulties within Libya, says Wilkes. "It is possible that people are taking boats to try to reach Europe. The most viable options are Tunisia, Egypt and North through the sea.
We need to be flexible. "If there is a flow from Libya, we could anticipate that a high proportion of their lives trying to flee, escaping a direct persecution," he added. Earlier, UNHCR spokeswoman Melissa Fleming said Italy was among the countries "most likely to receive an influx of people fleeing to Libya, including Libya and refugees from other places." We're saying, 'please, no rejections, "she said at a briefing in Geneva where the UN agency is headquartered.
"This is a time to show their humanitarian spirit and generosity toward people who are experiencing severe trauma," he added. The leader of the Lega Nord, an anti-immigration party and ally of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlunoni, said the Libyan immigrants arriving in Italy should be sent to other European countries.
"So far they have not arrived and we expect not come. If they come, we will send them to Germany and France, "said Umberto Bossi told reporters. Italy signed an agreement with Libya to stop the flow of illegal immigrants who use the North African country as a starting point for travel to southern Europe, and now fear that the riots in Libya cause an exodus to the coast.
The Italian Navy aircraft supported by several European allies have stepped up patrols in the central Mediterranean Sea to detect and prevent border crossings in an official said Tuesday the border security agency of the European Union. The UN agency has eight thousand refugees registered in Libya and three thousand asylum seekers with pending cases in Sudan, Iraq, Eritrea, Somalia, Chad and the Palestinian territories.
The UNHCR said it had received "disturbing reports" that Libyans were rejecting refugees from other African countries on suspicion of being mercenaries fighting for the government of Col. Moammar Gadhafi. "African Refugees in Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea have told us that Libya is very dangerous at this time simply if you have the black face, "said Wilkes.
Libya shares borders with Egypt and Tunisia, whose leaders have been ousted in January riots, like Sudan, Chad, Niger and Algeria. Tunisian Thousands have fled to Libya this week, crossing the border in the north. 
"So far no we have seen a huge exodus. But we are very concerned on the basis of reports we are receiving widespread violence and violence and persecution of specific individuals that may cause significant exodus from Libya, "he said. The UNHCR office in Tunisia has reported that four thousand 500 people have crossed into the country from Libya, according to the spokesman.
Most were Tunisian citizens, but about 650 were from other countries, including Libya and Algeria. The agency is developing contingency plans, but is hampered by communication difficulties within Libya, says Wilkes. "It is possible that people are taking boats to try to reach Europe. The most viable options are Tunisia, Egypt and North through the sea.
We need to be flexible. "If there is a flow from Libya, we could anticipate that a high proportion of their lives trying to flee, escaping a direct persecution," he added. Earlier, UNHCR spokeswoman Melissa Fleming said Italy was among the countries "most likely to receive an influx of people fleeing to Libya, including Libya and refugees from other places." We're saying, 'please, no rejections, "she said at a briefing in Geneva where the UN agency is headquartered.
"This is a time to show their humanitarian spirit and generosity toward people who are experiencing severe trauma," he added. The leader of the Lega Nord, an anti-immigration party and ally of Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlunoni, said the Libyan immigrants arriving in Italy should be sent to other European countries.
"So far they have not arrived and we expect not come. If they come, we will send them to Germany and France, "said Umberto Bossi told reporters. Italy signed an agreement with Libya to stop the flow of illegal immigrants who use the North African country as a starting point for travel to southern Europe, and now fear that the riots in Libya cause an exodus to the coast.
The Italian Navy aircraft supported by several European allies have stepped up patrols in the central Mediterranean Sea to detect and prevent border crossings in an official said Tuesday the border security agency of the European Union. The UN agency has eight thousand refugees registered in Libya and three thousand asylum seekers with pending cases in Sudan, Iraq, Eritrea, Somalia, Chad and the Palestinian territories.
The UNHCR said it had received "disturbing reports" that Libyans were rejecting refugees from other African countries on suspicion of being mercenaries fighting for the government of Col. Moammar Gadhafi. "African Refugees in Somalia, Ethiopia and Eritrea have told us that Libya is very dangerous at this time simply if you have the black face, "said Wilkes.
Libya shares borders with Egypt and Tunisia, whose leaders have been ousted in January riots, like Sudan, Chad, Niger and Algeria. Tunisian Thousands have fled to Libya this week, crossing the border in the north.
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