From defecting officials to citizens fleeing the violence, many Libyans see the island of Djerba as a place of refuge.
Waves of Libyan refugees are arriving at the southern Tunisian island of Djerba. While the new arrivals are boosting the economy, many local residents remain concerned about security.
Just 200km from Tripoli, the island has become the favoured destination for numerous Libyan public officials and families seeking to escape the violence ravaging the country. With the UN-backed no-fly zone in effect, Djerba's airport is the closest gateway for those in western Libya seeking to travel abroad.
Moamer Kadhafi's wife and daughter reportedly fled to Djerba last week. French Interior Minister Claude Guéant said May 17th that several Libyan officials from both the opposition and the Kadhafi regime were staying on Djerba, including some involved in negotiations to end the conflict.
The influx of people awaiting an end to the war in Libya has provided a vital impetus to the island's hard-hit economy. Some shops are even having trouble accommodating the large number of customers. According to Abd Naceur Midouni, employed at a local gas station, Libyans staying on the island outnumbered the locals.
"The number of cars with Libyan license plates driving through the roads of the island is about the double of cars with Tunisian license plates, and the number of the latter is increasing every day. The traffic on the roads is now non-stop day and night," Midouni said.
The island's coffee shops and restaurants have become the favourite meeting place for Libyans to discuss the current situation and exchange information. Kamel Bourass, a manager at a coffee shop in the centre, confirmed that the number of customers was sometimes more than what the shop could handle.
"Although the Libyan customers brought us more work, we, Tunisians, hope that peace in Libya will happen very soon and that our Libyan brothers can go back home," Bourass added.
Grocery store owner Mouheddine Abassi told Magharebia that a diverse range of businesses have benefited from the increased demand by Libyans. The added customers have sometimes led to shortages of basic goods such as milk and vegetable oil.
With recent news on suspected terrorists entering Tunisia from Libya, locals remain vigilant about any potential disturbances.
"In Djerba, we all keep a watchful eye," apartment owner Bouraoui Amri said. "We are on the lookout for anyone who dares disturb the peace of our beloved homeland. The security of Tunisia is the responsibility of all of us and we have to protect the country from any threats."
On May 19th, security forces in the area of Djerba-Ajim found sophisticated communication equipment and 10 night-vision goggles inside a car owned by a Libyan citizen. The suspicious vehicle was just one of four recent cases uncovered by security forces.
In another incident, Tunisian officials arrested two terrorists at a Tataouine hotel on May 18th. The suspects were allegedly armed with hand grenades and an explosive belt.
On Djerba, hotel manager Riadh Ben Aisssa told Magharebia that he was stepping up security, implementing bag checks at the hotel entrance as well as inspections for cars entering the premises.
Units of the army and security forces reinforced their presence on the island, especially around the key points with high traffic, such as the Djerba-Zarzis International Airport. Airport official Ilyes Guertilli told Magharebia that security forces were monitoring traffic around the clock in order to protect travellers and prevent any incident that could harm Tunisia's stability.
© Magharebia.com 2011
