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5 Ways To Help Libyan Refugees

Humanitarian Crisis On The Border: 5 Ways To Help Libyan Refugees
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With violent unrest mounting in Libya, where protesters are demanding the removal of dictator Muammar Gaddafi, thousands are fleeing the country seeking safety and stability.

An estimated 75,000 people have left the country since February 19. Tens of thousands more are waiting in border areas, eager to be allowed to cross.

Most of the people leaving are Egyptians and other non-Libyans who were working in the country when protests broke out. According to the BBC, "Vietnamese, Indians, Turks, Tunisians, Chinese and Thai workers" are also among the refugees.

Libya's borders with Tunisia and Egypt are flooded with people, desperate to get out of the conflict-riddled nation. Without sufficient food, water, housing and other resources, the situation could rapidly escalate to a dire fight for survival for many refugees.

CNN reports,

There were simply too many people crossing too fast, overwhelming Tunisian authorities, aid agencies and volunteers trying to get a handle on what the United Nations called a humanitarian catastrophe in the making.

Find out which organizations are on the ground at the Libyan border, providing humanitarian assistance to people in need, and how you can support relief efforts:

5 Ways To Help Libyan Refugees
(01 of05)
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The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) is working to feed migrant workers fleeing into Tunisia. A plane charted by the WFP landed in Djerba, Tunisia carrying 80 tons of high energy biscuits to be distributed. The first truckload of biscuits arrived at the border on March 1.Donors can give online to support the WFP's distribution of food to Libyan refugees. (credit:Getty)
(02 of05)
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To safeguard the conflict's most vulnerable victims, Save the Children has dispatched teams to provide aid to children in areas along Libya's border with Egypt. The organization will be distributing supplies and helping reunite lost children with their families.Save the Children has set up a designated fund for Libyan children in crisis. You can make an online donation to support children. (credit:Getty)
(03 of05)
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AmeriCares is rushing an emergency shipment of medical supplies to the Libyan border. The supply is expected to land in Cairo, Egypt on March 3 and be rushed to the border region.Supporters can help Libyan refugees by donating to the AmeriCares International Disaster Relief Fund. (credit:Getty)
(04 of05)
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The United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) reports the situation at the border is at a "crisis point" with over 14,000 refugees fleeing Libya in a single day.The organization established a transition camp of 1,500 tents to house 12,000 people by nightfall on March 1. An airlift is expected to arrive March 3 with additional tents and supplies for 10,000 more.Supporters can donate online to support the UNHCR's work. (credit:Getty)
(05 of05)
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International medical nonprofit Doctors Without Borders has dispatched a medical team to bring supplies to Libyan hospitals, help deal with the influx of wounded patients and train Libyan medical staff to cope with patients injured in future conflict.You can contribute to Doctors Without Borders online to support the doctors and nurses lending a hand in Libya. (credit:AP)

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