The call for aid for refugees in Tunisia Libyan Amazigh: "We want a ground intervention"

We have contacted Mr. Yousef Amr, representing 15 000 refugees from the Libyans Nefoussa (Jabal al-Gharbi as the official name of the Arab state of Libya) who sought refuge on the Tunisian side of the border.

Berber Voice: Could you introduce yourself?

Yousef Amr : I am from the city of Jadu, Nefoussa in the region. It is a Berber region. I am a professor of electronics in higher education. Since February 17, the region took up arms against the regime of Gaddafi. Today, faced with the violent militia attacks of Qaddafi, many of us have found refuge in Tunisia. I am now a refugee representatives, approved by the Tunisian authorities.

What is the situation of refugees in Tunisia?

It is very hard. We are now 15,000 refugees Libyan divided into five camps: Dehiba, Bir Tlathin, Douiret, Ras Jdir and Tataouine. It happens every day more people fleeing repression. The situation is bad, we do not have sufficient resources to cope with the influx. We need, in addition to food and drinking water, hygiene services (including toilets) and especially staff and medical equipment. We have at our support multiple disabilities, dozens of wounded who continue to bleed into our sick, old people tried and dehydrated. We begin to identify dozens of cases of infections and an old lady fell into a coma. We have almost nothing to deal with these people. Life in the camps is so hard, especially in the border camp Dehiba, many families begin to leave the camp secretly trying their luck in the cities of northern Tunisia.

Are there any organizations in the field to help you?

Yes, the Tunisian government to put some of its services available to us, which record the refugees when they cross the border, but, quite honestly, they are under-equipped and lack the means. Organizations in Qatar and the UAE are also present and doing what they can, as well as Doctors Without Borders and International Medical Corps. The International Committee of the Red Cross visited the camps for three days and left, we have no news of them. In fact, those who help us most and show total solidarity with the people we are Tunisian Red Crescent, to whom I paid tribute. However, if we add the support provided by these organizations, we get to meet the needs of 6000 people. But we have 9,000 who remain deprived of everything.

Where do the Libyan refugees in Tunisia?

They all come from the Berber region of Nefoussa. 5000 just Yefren, 5000 and 4000 of Qala Nalut. The rest comes from Kikla and Jadu. All this on an area of ​​350 000 inhabitants.

What is the situation across the border in Libya?

The whole region was raised as soon Nefoussa February 17 against Gaddafi. It's been a month and a half that we are fighting. The area was empty of civilians. City Yefren example, no longer has any civilians. Those who are not in refugee camps in the wander direction is North in Tunisia to go to another border crossing, or South, towards the desert to escape the militias Gaddafi. City Yefren is plagued by heavy fighting, militia Gaddafi took positions with tanks and guns near the hospital and to the east of the city, and they fired on houses. In Qala, Gaddafi's troops took control of a large water tank that supplies the area and defend it with 13 tanks and 7 anti-aircraft guns. From there, they bombard the villages nearby.

What is the situation of the rebels?

The army of Nefoussa consists of 10 000 officers and 300 volunteers. It has tanks, AAA and Stalin Organs taken from the enemy. Today, our army took control of the post-Wazzan and the border with Tunisia to Dehbi. The flag of the rebel fleet on the border post. One hundred Libyan troops surrendered with their weapons to the Tunisian army. However we can not move north of Tripoli, as the terrain is flat to the capital and we would be bombed.

How Gaddafi forces they regained the lead in your area?

Gaddafi has outside support. We have informants in the region of Ghadames, on the border with Algeria, which assure us that the 4 × 4 and heavy trucks (which can be mounted to the AAA or Grad missiles) to spend each week the Algerian border and are approved by the army of Gaddafi. Other information we learn that Gaddafi is still receiving communication equipment, high-tech devices and night vision for his men across the frontiers of Algeria, Mali, Niger and Chad. It is also these countries that are the mercenaries we could capture, including the Sahrawi Polisario Front which came from Algeria. We urge NATO to actively monitor the border between Libya and the country so that Gaddafi could not continue its war effort and crush the rebellion with new military equipment. Weapons troops Gaddafi we could enter from different countries, including Spain and Israel. NATO must prevent arms smuggling for the benefit of Gaddafi.

What do you hope the other on the part of NATO?

We ask the coalition countries and particularly in France and Nicolas Sarkozy in which we believe to send emissaries among us. The Berbers are a million and half of the Libyans. We want to negotiate directly with the coalition and especially the French. We are ready to meet the emissaries of the coalition of Benghazi, the diplomats present in Tunisia or any emissary of the nations of the coalition. They must understand that since the East, they will never Tripoli. However, our region extends Nefoussa the Tunisian border to 100 kilometers southwest of Tripoli. We can assure all French troops or coalition troops the full support of the army of Berbers Nefoussa. We will ensure their safety until they are approaching Tripoli, Gaddafi or guard of supporters. I am convinced that reaching agreement with the National Transitional Council of Benghazi on a commitment of ground troops of the coalition backed by the army of Nefoussa, Gaddafi will fall within days. But Mr Sarkozy must hurry, because during this time the militias continue to kill Gaddafi and our region is empty. It should also be noted that we are not Muslim extremists and that our victory can prevent some extremist groups prosprérer in the shadow of the revolution.