Faced with uncertainty about Libya’s future, not to mention violent oppression by Moammar Gaddafi in his attempt to maintain his grasp on power, 75,000 people have fled Libya – in the past two weeks!
Approximately 75,000 refugees have reportedly fled Libya in the past two weeks. Most of the refugees are foreigners who were living in Libya. The sudden outflow has strained the systems designed to aid Libyan refugees. [Source: The Huffington Post News Editors. 5 Ways To Help Libyan Refugees, 2011-03-02T06:01:56Z. Downloaded from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/02/how-to-help-libya-refugees_n_830040.html]
Most of the 75,000 people who have fled Libya are foreigners. It is worth noting that these are 75,000 people who voluntarily lived in Gaddafi’s Libya. Even these hardy foreigners have now thrown in the towel. The departure of these 75,000 is a sign that Gaddafi’s times is short.
As violence continues to escalate in Libya, it is likely that many more will leave. Libyan rioting seems to be escalating into a civil war. Many of those not personally involved in the fighting must be thinking of leaving, for the sake of their own safety. As Gaddafi increasingly uses military force against his own people, he will inadvertently force many to leave the country.
But where will they go? Refugee aid on Libya’s borders is already overwhelmed. Perhaps neighboring nations (and even far-flung nations like the U.S.) will waive immigration restrictions to aid the refugees. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton has promised to aid Libya. [Source: Clinton: We’re Ready to Help Libya, 2011-02-27T18:40:10. Downloaded from: http://www.newser.com/story/112981/hillary-clinton-were-ready-to-give-libya-any-type-of-assistance.html] Many of the refugees will, presumably, want to eventually return to Libya after the violence dies down; so they will be a temporary burden on any host country.
Gaddafi’s refusal to step down as leader of Libya is creating humanitarian disasters not only inside his country, but also outside as 75,000 refugees struggle to find a place in the world; this disaster will likely grow in the weeks to come.
Sources
Clinton: We’re Ready to Help Libya, 2011-02-27T18:40:10. Downloaded from: http://www.newser.com/story/112981/hillary-clinton-were-ready-to-give-libya-any-type-of-assistance.html
The Huffington Post News Editors. 5 Ways To Help Libyan Refugees, 2011-03-02T06:01:56Z. Downloaded from: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/02/how-to-help-libya-refugees_n_830040.html]
