Tunisia-Sfax: Civil society organizations sound the alarm on situation of asylum seekers

13 civil society organizations have sounded the alarm on the alarming situation of thousands of people from countries encountering conflicts and/or flagrant human rights violations, including Sudan, Ethiopia, Somalia, Chad, Eritrea and Niger.

“Since July 5, 2023, a tragic situation has been growing in Beb Jebli, in downtown Sfax as well as in some places around the city. About 500 people, including women and children, assembled in Beb Jebli, the central square of the city of Sfax,” highlight the signatory organizations.

And added that “This gathering, where there are refugees, asylum seekers and migrants, is part of a context of an upsurge in violence against people on the move in Sfax”.

The signatory organizations recollected that since the start of July, hundreds of people have been displaced and chased from their homes by residents, put on the street and deported to the borders of Algeria and Libya by the authorities.

Several of these individuals then managed to return to Sfax, where, deprived of everything, they are staying on the road, on the ground, in extremely precarious conditions. Today, these people, including women and children, find themselves in precarious health and human situations and in dreadful living conditions, deprived of shelter, and without access to water and food.

On July 8, President Kais Saied mandated the Tunisian Red Crescent (CRT) to coordinate with humanitarian associations to provide aid to people.

The signatory organizations consider that this obligation to go through the CRT to deliver assistance to needy people has caused a slowdown and a blockage in the provision of assistance, especially to people who are outside the Beb Jebli gathering.

Indeed, many humanitarian organizations and associations are still waiting for authorizations to be able to interfere and provide assistance to people in mobility situations.

The signatory organizations have cautioned of the precarious situation in which refugees, asylum seekers and migrants find themselves and the risks this entails in the short and medium term;

The signatory organizations called for easier access for humanitarian organizations to intervene urgently and go beyond administrative obstacles.

They are urging the Tunisian government to find emergency and lasting solutions as quickly as possible while respecting the rights and dignity of people on the move.

These same organizations condemned hate speech discrimination, and violence against people on the move, including at the hands of law enforcement officers.

They also voiced their full and unwavering support for all refugees, asylum seekers and migrants with their legitimate demands.