UN urges Tunisia to end expulsion of asylum seekers to desert border areas
(VOVWORLD) - United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for Tunisia to stop expelling migrants from South-Saharan countries to its borders with Libya and Algeria, said Farhan Haq, Deputy Spokesman for the Secretary-General at a daily press briefing in in New York.
 Stranded migrants at Ra's Ajdir near Libya-Tunisia border on July 26th (Photo: THX/VNA) |
Several have died at the border with Libya and hundreds, including pregnant women and children, reportedly remain stranded in extremely dire conditions with little access to food and water, the spokesperson said. He reiterated the UN’s call for an immediate end to these expulsions and the urgent relocation of those stranded along the border to safe locations.
All migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers must be protected and treated with dignity, in full respect for their human rights regardless of their status and in accordance with international human rights and refugee law, he said.