Libya Conflict: Tripoli residents pour into Tunisia's Ben Guerdane City

World
Europe

01:51

And as Tripoli residents flee the fighting, Tunisia's southern city of Ben Guerdane is their first destination. CGTN's Adnen Chaouachi has the details.

The escalation of the armed conflict in Libya has caused an unusual activity on the border with Tunisia. Libyans describe the situation as alarming near Tripoli.

"We stopped working and fled with our families because the situation is very dangerous. The center of Tripoli is still stable but clashes erupted in its surroundings."

Tunisian authorities have reinforced control in Ras Jedir Broder. Hundreds of National Guards, soldiers and customs agents were deployed.

"Border search for cars takes hours. We left our car on the Libyan side of the border because hundreds of families were stranded. We walked for 3 miles to enter Tunisia."

Libyans expressed dismay at the situation in their country. Many believe Libya could plunge again into civil war if a political agreement is not reached between rival groups.

"We hope that stakeholders will agree on a political settlement. Otherwise, we will stay in Tunisia because the worst is yet to come in Libya."

In 2011, Tunisia struggled to cope with the over 1 million refugees who fled the violence in Libya including tens of thousands of foreign workers who streamed across the Tunisian border.

ADNEN CHAOUACHI BEN GUERDANE, TUNISIA "Tunisian President Beji Caid Essebsi has called for the need to avoid military escalation in Libya and to stop the fighting in Tripoli. The head of state further highlighted the importance of supporting the political process and showing restraint so as to prevent further suffering of the Libyan people. AC. CGTN. T."