All eyes are now on Libya, our neighbour.
Malta is the focus of expat evacuation from Libya. Here, we focus on what’s going on in Libya, through the eyes of a young Libyan woman in Tripoli. With her kind permission, we relay her blog of the last days. She may not have internet soon and wants more people to hear her story. It needs no more introduction. We will keep it anonymous for now until we are sure she is safe. Please read on….
25 February: The final showdown?
Apparently today after Friday prayers will be a decisive day! Well we will find out soon enough, it’s just round the corner in a couple of hours….May God protect Libya.
I don’t know what the ‘international community’ is doing seeing how there does not seem to be any coherent response; and to be honest I’m not expecting much as they should not have to worry about another country anyway.
I’ve read that the UK and the US where considering a military rescue action for some of their people who may still be stranded. Not sure I’m happy about that, yes they have a right to worry about their own but not to put our life in more jeopardy because of that. I have not heard that the Chinese or the Egyptians or other countries want to storm Libya to rescue their nationals….Not sure what to think these are just ideas I’m stringing here….
I don’t look forward to more sanctions on Libya, the last time around it was ordinary people like us who suffered the most. Please UN, US, EU or whoever is considering sanctions can you weigh them carefully so that you don’t add to the casualties here. We really don’t look forward to be counted among collateral damage….
And one final thing for those who keep saying leave, I’m saying no, this is my country, I refuse to be a refugee! A real Libyan will never run when things get unsavory.
I have this hope that in less than a week we should be OK, just need to weather this storm and all will be well inshallah!
[And from earlier this week…]
Week One Over, What Next?
In a way I believe that living the events is sometimes better than watching them from afar, and while utterly devastated at the loss of life on the ground I have absolutely no means to confirm the numbers. However, I can confirm that all sort of jets have been over the Tripoli airspace, but what they are I cannot identify. Also as I am no expert on ordnance I won’t venture any speculation. I have heard explosions and live ammunition but because we do not have many high rise buildings sounds carry far here and so locations are difficult to judge precisely unless you were right there when it happened. All areas of Tripoli have some form of disturbance, the gravity is relative to which strategic hot point is in your neighborhood.
Many streets have self made barricades, burning tar barrels etc.. young men are trying to guard their areas with sticks, this is were I wish I had bought a bat when I had the opportunity to. The uncertainty of what form of danger can one be faced with is big factor in keeping the adrenaline running high this is where mistakes can be made when we need to keep a clear head. I thought of rounding up the young men and asking them to help with cleaning some of the mess around but I am sure that in these strange times it will be seen as asking for trouble.
Currently we live one day at a time, you worry about who is shooting at whom, about thugs and criminals (there are too many after the recent prison releases), you worry about people who will use this situation to their advantage, about war profiteers in basic commodities (and I have experienced them), about securing medical supplies to children and elderly people, about the possibility of rape and if someone would rescue you or not, about electricity and about being cut off from your family, friends and the world. Dying alone is not fun, dying alone and in a ‘dark’ loophole without anyone learning about it is worse.
Personally, we are more than 13 souls in this house and that’s not counting the pets and it’s a challenge at times to ensure everyone does not get on everybody else nerves. I have no news about my aunts, uncle, cousins etc…. because they live in different areas and I can’t get them on the phones and none are internet addicts like me. But I am confident that whoever can contact the other first will do so as soon as possible. I may try and drive to where they live today and check on them but not sure it is a safe idea.
Every family in Libya is affected because we are a tight community and because we are a small population. The psychological toll will leave scars and I have not heard anyone in the media offer to help once our trials and tribulations are over, but I’m sure that the non-Arab foreigners who have already left or who are still stuck here will get plenty of psychological support on reaching their homes and I admit that this is somehow irksome to me.
However, Libyans have proven they are a hard nut to crack so inshallah all will be well!
Libya has always been in some way or another a front page news topic and once again we find ourselves in this situation. The world is holding their breath but I’m still not sure if it is caring about the Libyans or simply the cursed oil and the effect that such as crisis is/will be having on the world and honestly just watching all the economic reports makes me lean towards the latter.
Is there danger you ask ? Yes, but I believe we have reached the point of no return.
What will happen next? I have no idea but and I am praying that the outcome of this situation is to the advantage of our country and its noble people.
[Blog extract reproduced here with the blogger’s kind permission]
Photo: Valonia Hardy