Ras Jedir on the Libyan border

They wait in apparent good humour given all they've been through. Over 70,000 have passed this border crossing and thousands are still waiting. At left is a picture of those still waiting to pass into Tunisia escaping fighting, robbery and agression from Gaddafi's troops. Many have spent days to get here. Most are Egyptian as well as many Bangladeshi and Vietnamese.

As they trickle through, the Tunisian put up an heroic effort to distribute food, water and blankets. It is very cold at night here in the desert. We stay in a hotel without heat and I sleep with blankets and a coat feeling very priviledged when I think of all those still waiting to cross the border. International help is just beginning to arrive as this potential human catastrophy mounts.

Camps are spreading out as thousands carry all their belongings across into a field and set up tents from the United Nations Refugee Agency. The Tunisian army and nacient government are trying their best to organise this human tide. Along the road, we have seen private cars filled with bread and mattresses for the refugees. I think the Tunisians are very proud that the Arab revolution started in their country and they are being very generous to help their neighbors. The Tunisian flag is even carried by some refugees as a sign of freedom.