Gambia: Red Cross assists returnees from Libya
15-03-2011 News Release 11/57
Banjul (ICRC) – A total of 677 people returning to their home countries from Libya have been looked after by the Gambia Red Cross Society in cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC).
The nationals of Gambia, Senegal, Guinea-Bissau and Guinea-Conakry arrived at the international airport in Banjul from 10 to 14 March on four flights organized by the Gambian government.
"As soon as they arrived, the returnees were provided by the Gambia Red Cross with food and drink," said Jean-Luc Metzker, head of the ICRC mission in Gambia. "Some of them had been waiting for days in very harsh conditions before they were able to leave Libya."
Similar flights are expected over the coming days. Through its mission in Banjul, the ICRC will continue to help the Gambian Red Cross provide support for people returning from Libya.
For further information, please contact:
Jean-Luc Metzker, ICRC Banjul, tel: +220 77 752 90
Lamin Gassama, The Gambia Red Cross Society Banjul, tel: +220 99 163 88
Wolde-Gabriel Saugeron, ICRC Dakar, tel: +221 77 529 71 45