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If Revolution comes in Libya....

Last activity 12 February 2011 by justice4pal

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saifizlhr

Hi guys,

If tha same revolution comes in Libya like Egypt and Tunis what effect will be on Expats working in Libya? Will they be insecured or will their salary packages will be decreased? or will the govt. ask the expats to leave so that Libyans can work on their basis?

justice4pal

I think you should contact your employer/HR and become familiar with whatever policy, including evacuation, they have in place. Also, your embassy. Also, whatever "plan" your employer has, make your own.  Essentially ability to stay in country is always subject to change. 

After years of expat living, including two wartime/civil unrest evacuations, we learned how to be ready for a quick get away. the first, from the Gaza STrip was way different from the second from Israel - at start of the US invasion of Iraq.  Some tips:

All docs and paperwork, in same place, packed ready to go.

Backup computer onto external hard drive. 

Cash

Land and air routes (we had plans for leaving via the Sinai and Jordan. 

In Lbya, you have to make sure to have an exit visa all all times if that's the type of residency visa you have. 

Emergency pack list.  That way you're not running around trying to remember what the most important things are to take or leave. While we didn't have a packed bag ready at all times, friends of ours did. 

(In Israel, we also had a chemical warfare shelter in our house - with suits, masks, food, water and portapotty.  That was wild.

Muster points - for situations the family is separated and phones don't work... where to go/meet if we couldn't get to the house.

ID a person back home in the states as the clearinghouse/contact person in case any evacuation is separate. 

ID emergency contact person in Libya - through employer. 

You get the idea. 

In both of the evacuations, we were able to return later to get the rest of our possessions out.  In the case of Gaza (back in 2000) though, the Israeli government wouldn't let us back into Gaza, so a friend of ours met my husband at the checkpoint to get our apartment key, then two nights later with stuff packed in boxes in his truck - literally at midnight - they reconvened  at the checkpoint to transfer it.  The Israeli border guards weren't happy, but husband has  way of getting his way. 

That evacuation taught us a lot so the second time we were better prepared - also, the first evacuation was pretty quick, nobody knew it was going to explode in Gaza when it did and last as long as it did. We weren't in any danger from Palestinians, the problem was that work was impossible and the Palestinians and Israelis were fighting at all the settlements in Gaza.  I'll never forget being on the terrace of our apartment (top floor - 14th) and seeing the Israeli helicopters firing about 3 miles south of us, seeing clouds of dust and smoke and then, back inside, seeing it happen on CNN or BBC. We were there about a week before we got the call to leave.  Husband called to tell me a convoy of expats were leaving in 45 minutes.  I left dirty dishes in the sink. 

Second evacuation, just before the US invaded Iraq, we were living in Israel, commuting to school and work in Gaza everyday.

(At the time, we weren't allowed to live in Gaza, because the US governemnt figured we were in greater danger in Gaza from overnight Israeli bombing raids than we'd be in Israel shopping, going to movies and being exposed to suicide bombers).

The embassy wanted non-essentials and families out caused they feared Saddam would attack Israel if/when the US invaded.  Never happened, but we were evacuated just in case.  Husband went to Cyprus, we went back to the States so daughter could finish the school year. 

Anyway, that time we planned our departure and there were no dirty dishes in the sink.  We returned to Israel in the summer.

Articles to help you in your expat project in Libya

All of Libya's guide articles