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Refugees

World Refugee Day 2011: The photos and stories

“You know, it’s better to die trying to cross the Mediterranean than to stay in this situation in the camp”: Testimonies from refugees who fled the Libyan violence.
3.10pm, 20 Jun 2011
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World Refugee Day 2011: The photos and stories
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  • World Refugee Day 2011

    Over 600,000 civilians have fled the violence in Libya, mainly travelling to Tunisia, Egypt, Niger, Chad and Italy. (Photo: Mattia Insolera via MSF)

  • World Refugee Day 2011

    Testimony from Mike Bates, MSF head of mission, about life for some people at Shousha camp: “They don't want to return home. They look at any means possible to return to Libya, and if possible, they will try to cross into Europe, crossing the Mediterranean. Their journey in search of a better living is like a never-ending nightmare.” (Photo: Michael Bates via MSF)

  • World Refugee Day 2011

    (Photo: Mattia Insolera via MSF)

  • World Refugee Day 2011

    MSF has been providing psychological support to refugees who have been abused in migrant detention centres inside Libya, before being exposed to further violence at Shousha Camp. (Photo: Mattia Insolera)

  • World Refugee Day 2011

    Testimony from a refugee at Shousha Camp on the Tunisian-Libyan border: "You know, it's better to die trying to cross the Mediterranean than to stay in this situation in the camp. We don't have a life here, we don't have an existence. We need to get out!" (Photo: Mattia Insolera)

  • World Refugee Day 2011

    Testimony from a refugee in Mineo, Italy: “Few years ago, I run away from Nigeria, passed through Niger (...) All along I was living from one place to another. In Libya, I started another life thinking that all is over. I was surviving, I was living. Then the war started, I thought this is another time again to run, It was another massacre for the Black. We look like weapons in the eyes of the Libyans, in the eye of Gaddafians.” (Photo: Mattia Insolera via MSF)
  • Over 600,000 civilians have fled the violence in Libya, mainly travelling to Tunisia, Egypt, Niger, Chad and Italy. (Photo: Mattia Insolera via MSF)
  • Testimony from Mike Bates, MSF head of mission, about life for some people at Shousha camp: “They don't want to return home. They look at any means possible to return to Libya, and if possible, they will try to cross into Europe, crossing the Mediterranean. Their journey in search of a better living is like a never-ending nightmare.” (Photo: Michael Bates via MSF)
  • (Photo: Mattia Insolera via MSF)
  • MSF has been providing psychological support to refugees who have been abused in migrant detention centres inside Libya, before being exposed to further violence at Shousha Camp. (Photo: Mattia Insolera)
  • Testimony from a refugee at Shousha Camp on the Tunisian-Libyan border:
  • Testimony from a refugee in Mineo, Italy: “Few years ago, I run away from Nigeria, passed through Niger (...) All along I was living from one place to another. In Libya, I started another life thinking that all is over. I was surviving, I was living. Then the war started, I thought this is another time again to run, It was another massacre for the Black. We look like weapons in the eyes of the Libyans, in the eye of Gaddafians.” (Photo: Mattia Insolera via MSF)

In Photos: Who are the UN’s Goodwill Ambassadors – and how were they picked?

Read: NATO says ‘weapons system failure’ killed Libyan civilians >

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