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Fleeing Libya
01/10
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Two drivers rest in the undercarriage of a bus. Many empty coaches sit in the car park, waiting to take those fleeing Libya across the border into Egypt.
Fleeing Libya
02/10
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The border town of Salloum. Over one hundred thousand have passed through Salloum in the past few weeks, fleeing unrest in Libya.
Fleeing Libya
03/10
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Malian migrants sit on a curb. They have officially left Libya, but many lack the funds or necessary documents to continue into Egypt.
Fleeing Libya
04/10
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Migrants sleep on both sides of a fence that runs between the gates into Egypt and Libya. Food and water is distributed on one side by the Egyptian military, demanding that migrants climb the fence multiple times a day.
Fleeing Libya
05/10
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Most of the Bangladeshi migrants have moved into the customs building. Many arrived nearly two weeks ago.
Fleeing Libya
06/10
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In preparing for departure, migrants are lined up based on country of origin.
Fleeing Libya
07/10
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A Bangladeshi migrant packs up his belongings as he prepares to finally leave for home.
Fleeing Libya
08/10
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A Malian migrant rests against suitcases. Temperatures drop drastically at night, many complain of being too cold to sleep.
Fleeing Libya
09/10
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The border between Egypt and Libya, near town of Salloum. The hundreds (if not thousands) of African and Bangladeshi migrants stuck at the border. Most don\'t have necessary papers to enter Egypt, many have been here 2 weeks.
Fleeing Libya
10/10
Caption
Chadian migrants lean against a fence at the border between Libya and Egypt. Many people have tied thick blankets to fences to create tent-like shelters.
  • Fleeing Libya
  • Fleeing Libya
  • Fleeing Libya
  • Fleeing Libya
  • Fleeing Libya
  • Fleeing Libya
  • Fleeing Libya
  • Fleeing Libya
  • Fleeing Libya
  • Fleeing Libya

The border between Egypt and Libya, near town of Salloum. The hundreds (if not thousands) of African and Bangladeshi migrants stuck at the border. Most don't have necessary papers to enter Egypt, many have been here 2 weeks. 16/03/2011

Over one hundred thousand migrant workers have crossed the border between Egypt and Libya, near the town of Salloum. I photographed the hundreds (if not thousands) of African and Bangladeshi migrants stuck at the border. Unlike the Egyptians and Libyans fleeing Libya, most of these workers don't have the necessary papers to cross into Egypt. Having officially left Libya, they sleep in car parks, custom buildings, etc. before the entry gate to Egypt. Many have been there for two weeks.

The Egyptian military provides food and water, but temperatures drop at night and there is not sufficient shelter between the gates. One Malian migrant told me he has barely slept since arriving. Another Bangladeshi worker claimed he had not been paid by his German employer in Libya for over four months. For these migrants, they have escaped a bad situation, yet still remain in grave uncertainty.

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