UNHCR reports thousands displaced in eastern Libya

The UN refugee agency said that that thousands of Libyans have fled their homes in the east of the country, according to witnesses crossing the border into Egypt.

“UNHCR staff at Egypt’s border with Libya have been hearing from new arrivals that thousands of Libyans are displaced in the east of the country, taking refuge in homes, schools and university halls,” said Adrian Edwards, a spokesman for the office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

“Libyans at the Egyptian border told UNHCR that they feared reprisal attacks by pro-government supporters in eastern parts of the country,” he added.

The displacement in the past week was reported in the cities of Tobruk, Derna, as well as Ajdabiya, which was the scene of heavy fighting earlier last week. The accounts referred to fighting between government forces and rebels.

“They said people are afraid to go out after 4 p.m. Some have seen their homes completely destroyed,” Mr Edwards said.

The UNHCR described the situation on the border with Egypt as “relatively quiet”, with cars crossing from Libya on Monday.

The numbers of people crossing increased through the weekend to reach about 3,000 on Sunday alone, including 1,560 Libyan refugees and 1,344 Egyptians, according to authorities in Egypt cited by the UNHCR.

Aid agencies have been bracing for a refugee exodus into Libya if Gaddafi’s forces push further into the rebel-held east.