Refugees and asylum seekers complain about their situation in Tunisia
Tunis, Tunisia (PANA) - The official spokesperson of the Tunisian Forum for Economic and Social Rights (FTDES), Romdhane Ben Omar, Saturday reported difficulties encountered by refugees and asylum seekers in Tunisia in obtaining financial aid, which forces them to work in unsafe conditions.
In a statement to the press on Friday, the NGO deplored that the failure to obtain subsidies from the office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees had pushed many refugees to seek other sources of income, thus exposing them to the violation of their dignity and rights.
Omar denounced the failure of the UN organizations concerned to fulfil their duty to assist refugees and asylum seekers, calling for the reinforcement of the assistance granted to this category in the face of the growing number of refugees and asylum seekers.
Abderrazek Krimi, the executive officer in charge of the refugee protection project at the Tunisian Refugee Council, denied any ethnic discrimination in the allocation of aid from UNHCR or its partners to refugees and asylum seekers.
He explained that the strategy adopted in the granting of subsidies and aid was based on several criteria, the most important of which was the precarious situation of refugees and asylum seekers, notably unaccompanied children, single mothers, the elderly, victims of violence and people with disabilities.
He stressed that the asylum card did not directly give the right to assistance, pointing out that UNHCR granted financial assistance to refugees for a period of three months, renewable, stressing that in case of voluntary return, integration in the host country or transfer to another country, the financial assistance was suspended.
According to the official, each refugee and asylum seeker receives an amount of 250 dinars, while an aid of 350 dinars is granted to each refugee family, which also benefits from an additional sum depending on the number of children.
He added that the assistance was renewed more than once, depending on the level of precariousness and that refugees and asylum seekers who were able to work were integrated by the UNHCR into professional life, except that a certain number of refugees or asylum seekers refused the job offers and were satisfied with the assistance granted.
Mr Krimi also stressed the need to put in place national legislation to protect the material and moral rights of refugees and asylum seekers, particularly in view of their growing numbers, which are currently estimated at more than 8,500 and are expected to reach 12,000 by the end of this year.
Tunisia has four reception centres for refugees and asylum seekers, including one in Medenine, two in Zarzis, two cities in southern Tunisia, and one in Tunis.
-0- PANA BB/JSG/BBA/RA 21Aug2021
