Ali, 39, has been living in a camp at Jdir Ras, Tunisia, for several days
39 year-old Ali fled violence in Libya to become one of the almost ten thousand Bangladeshi people who today occupy a UNHCR camp at Jdir Ras, Tunisia.
Ali was an employee of a Chinese construction firm, and had been living with friends in Libya for a year. His wife and four children - two boys and two girls - live at home in Bangladesh. It's been several days since his arrival in the camp. Reports that Libyan forces are preventing foreign nationals from leaving the country are officially unconfirmed, however, Ali said that he was had to turn over all of his possessions - including money and mobile phones - to the Libyan police before he was allowed to cross the border into neighbouring Tunisia.
There is no Bangladeshi embassy in Tunisia, and, with many people forced to flee Libya without papers, thousands are stuck in the camp until they can be processed and helped in their onwards journey. Currently, Ali shares a tent with ten other people, but he does not complain. For Ali, the real fear is returning to a life of poverty in his home country, where he says there is no work to be had.
Islamic Relief’s emergency response aims to help the most vulnerable people affected by violence and turmoil in the region, and our team of more than 50 staff and volunteers are now responding to the humanitarian crisis on the Tunisian border with Libya. Around 40,000 people have so far received vital aid. Please support our efforts to help even more vulnerable people: Donate to our Middle East and North Africa appeal.