White Fathers Tunisia 2 Eye-witness Accounts Refugees at the Tunisia - Libya Border Interview with Fr. Jonathan Bahago - WF at Sfax Tell us how you came in contact with refugees fleeing Libya. Fr. Dominique (a diocesan priest) invited me to come to the border with him. He is very committed socially and had received a donation to buy tins of tuna fish for the NGO 'Good Samaritans', to prepare meals for the refugees. We spent a day in the camp. What did you see on the spot? Firstly, we saw lots of Tunisian soldiers who supervised everyone extremely well. The biggest group then were those from Bangladesh; there were over 8,000! Then there were the Filipinos and the Chinese who were soon evacuated followed by the Sri Lankans and Africans from several countries. However, the Burkinabe and Chadians were also soon taken in charge by their embassies and evacuated. . . Can you tell us anything about the camp? Once they leave Libya, the people register with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and they are given a plastic tent for six or seven people that they can pitch at already prepared places arranged by bulldozers. You also received a small mattress and blanket. Unfortunately, there are only three toilets and no shower, so people do what they can. By contrast, the food was abundant. Here, I must say how much the Tunisians, both individuals and organizations, were very generous, not only in relation to food supplies, but also in giving their time and being there, at the service of all the refugees. What was you specific involvement? We were accommodated in a small hotel 30km from the camp. Every morning at 05.00 we left to work in the 'Samaritans' NGO, to prepare and distribute the breakfasts. Immediately afterwards, we began once again to prepare the meal for 15.00. You have no idea the quantity of carrots, onions and rice needed for this multitude! This does not include lifting these immense cauldrons and washing them! I must pay tribute to Sr. Mercé and Sr. Marie Claire, Little Sisters of Jesus, who from the start have been fully involved in the camps. . . What other agencies were on the spot? The World Food Programme (WFP), the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) the Algerian and Tunisian Red Crescent, an association of Tunisian psychologists, but also Caritas Lebanon, Caritas Internationalis and Caritas France, this last-mentioned with the means of communication to reassure the families of refugees. However, all these organisations were held together perfectly by the Tunisian Army, which was remarkable in every way: discipline, organisation and even-handedness; it is not easy to make peace prevail in the midst of tension between migrants! Faced with the enormity of the task, your contribution must have seemed very modest. At a given point, the volunteers were replaced by salaried people. Then we were able to devote ourselves to listening to the people in their turmoil. We went from tent to tent to listen to their pitiful stories: before the war, their salaries were late in coming; then some banks refused to return their savings, and they were led to the border, the Libyan army robbing them of all they had left (portable phones, watches, cash). They asked themselves lots of questions and us too: 'What will become of me, Father? I emigrated to earn money and now I am even poorer than before... what a disgrace!' Some asked us straight, 'What can you do for me? Can you help me get to Europe?' Nevertheless, is listening any use? When they begin to speak, other people come and, together, speaking and listening to one another becomes like a therapy. I found some fellow-countrymen who asked me to help them. I contacted the Nigerian Embassy by telephone and I even travelled the 800km to Tunis to compel them to act. A week later, 1,300 Nigerians were evacuated by the IOM on three flights. However, the refugees arrive irregularly and do not all leave together... . . What struck you most seeing life in the camp? Firstly, the condition of the women, especially those with babies or pregnant; unfortunately, I must admit that prostitution was organised in the camp... Next, the solidarity of the Tunisians who devoted themselves completely to help this multitude in need; some even came to settle near the camps; they not only gave things, they gave themselves! I can still see in my mind's eye Tunisian Scouts collecting the rubbish... To conclude, there was a huge variety of organisations that quickly arrived to help. The NGO that received us is of Protestant origin, but we worked together to respond to the question, 'Who is my neighbour?' How is the situation going to evolve? Some NGOs have already gone and the flow of refugees has slowed. Everything depends on the internal situation in Libya, because some are even visualizing returning there soon! After this experience, are you happy to have come to Tunisia? I never thought when coming here that I would have to respond to such an urgent and humanitarian appeal. In addition, I must say that without the support of my community that organised itself to go there in rotation, who agreed to draw from its budget to help, I could have done nothing. Moreover, once the news of our presence was known in the camp, all the confreres in the Province of the Maghreb supported us by their prayers, sending us donations, telephoning and asking for news... I must admit I am not the same person since passing through the refugee camps: I thought I was giving, but I received a lot and learned a lot about a listening attitude, on the reasons that compel people to leave, the itineraries, the reasons for migration... I felt great powerlessness because I could do nothing for those who wanted a plane ticket to return home or reach Europe. However, I think Christ did something through me. I am thinking of the day I spent three hours pacifying 500 of my fellow-countrymen and replied without end to the same questions. In any case, we'll be back! * * * Moïse Nacoulma, Apostolic practice, Sfax (Tunisia) My neighbour is this refugee Since migrants are at our border with Libya, I always wanted to go there. A parish Sister and a confrere of the community went there from time to time. This desire reignited in me when one day while I was taking a coffee with a Tunisian friend who asked me what I was doing for my refugee sisters and brothers at the border. When my confrere Jonathan proposed to me to go there, I leapt at the opportunity. We arrived at the refugee camp after spending the night at Ben Garden. The camp is immense and the first impression made me think of a humanitarian disaster. Before beginning our activities, we took the time to pray. The text chosen spoke of the Good Samaritan. I don't know if it was by chance or inspiration, but I found this text apt and even more, it showed me my mission with the refugees. They need a neighbour, not a priest or a Levite. Since the UNCHR (High Commission for Refugees) look after everything, we split into two group and began to visit and speak with the refugees. They were ready to receive us in their tents, even offering us tea or milk. They then spoke to us of their experience in Libya, and their far from easy life in the camp. Some harbour the hope of returning home. Others want to go on to Europe as they have lost everything or because their country is unstable. Others again want to return to Libya or Europe. We felt powerless when faced with their complaints and the food problem of the refugees. We could only sympathise with them, speak with them and remain with them for a while. We walked a lot through the camp which is vast and met people of several nationalities. Since this visit, I bring the hope of the people we met to evening prayer and even now I ask the Lord to protect them. One thing touched me more than anything: the work of the humanitarian agencies and the volunteers, without forgetting the Tunisian army. Many continued to smile and sympathise with the refugees in spite of the difficult conditions of life and the climate. At the end of these two days of contact with the refugees, a feeling of hope arose in me, for a better tomorrow. I would gladly go back, but given the number of volunteers, I also leave the opportunity for other to live the experience of a refugee transit camp for all nationalities in the depth of the Tunisian desert. . . Texts and photos sent by José Cantal Translated by Donald MacLeod M.Afr