Situation in Benghazi

Yul83 wrote:

Hi, I may go and live in Benghazi for a while for a humanitarian project and I was wondering how the situation was there (in terms of security and living conditions).
Thank you.

As far as I know police has been restored in the city, frontline is between Ajdabiya and Brega with several Gaddafi raiding parties raiding cities in Jalo oasis and Kufra district. Otherwise family feuds were reported in Benghazi but journalists had not reported any violent activity in city so youŽll be safe as long as you wonŽt get any stupid idea to go look near the frontline. Remember, GRAD rocket can kill you from 40km without any problem whatsoever and many has learned this hard way. But word to the wise, going to the country which is torn apart by civil war is bad idea and many have payed the price for risking it altough Benghazi is safe for now.

Thank you Kalerab.

Is there any information about the state of Benina Airport?

Looking at security for Charter flights going in to Benghazi.  Keen to get any idea of risk and availability of aircraft services, accommodation etc.

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks

Noel

Noelie2000 wrote:

Is there any information about the state of Benina Airport?

Looking at security for Charter flights going in to Benghazi.  Keen to get any idea of risk and availability of aircraft services, accommodation etc.

Any advice appreciated.

Thanks

Noel

As far as I know Benina Airport is operational after what Gaddafi forces bombed its runway during second battle of Benghazi and its used for delivery of humanitarian aid by United Nations. But you wonŽt get there by any flights, all flights which go there are approved by UN and NATO HQ and it will stay like that till this conflict ends. Only way to Benghazi is through Egypt.

And the Egyptian route is dangerous, you need a driver, security and a "sponsor invite" without these you wont get across the border.

officeboy wrote:

And the Egyptian route is dangerous, you need a driver, security and a "sponsor invite" without these you wont get across the border.

WhatŽs sponsor invite anyway? Also just few days ago I read one of the journal of one LIbyan which returned from diaspora after 12 years, he said that he just payed 2 guys in Cairo which drove him to Benghazi without any problem, Egyptian border patrol let them through after little checking of their passports while rebel border patrol just didnt care.

Sponsor invite is for Non Libyans, If your Libyan you can come and go (though I doubt the rebel patrols "just didn't care" as they are trying to keep out Pro supporters) I had assumed you are an expat, in which case you will need the sponsor letter (a reason to go into Libya) and security as all expats are at risk of  being detained if unaccompanied.
If however you feel that you can do the 1500km drive through 47 armed check points, by "paying 2 guys in Cairo" then I am amazed by your naivety, have fun and remember
[Moderated: Harsh comment]

OB

Thanks Kalerab.

Any info is useful for planning ahead.  Am involved in flights already going in to Benina for VVIP but like you say these are cleared and have military escorts; literally a 40 min turn around.

I think a personal recce is really required but need to wait for some stability; let the dust settle in Misrata.

If you hear anything or get your hands on any images I would be very interested.

Very interesting about the rebel check points and border patrol; I presume the border patrol is purely volunteers rather than any defected immigration control?

Cheers for your help.

Noel

Moderated?? Hmmmmmmmm. I do feel you need to be harsh sometimes, people who just think they can "turn up and help out" are usually a danger to themselves and those who end up having to help them.
OB

Hello OB,

In fact, the comment has been moderated because we have received some reports in regards to that.

Yud wrote:

Hello OB,

In fact, the comment has been moderated because we have received some reports in regards to that.

but you have also censored my message budding in in support of OB's (however harshly expressed) position (together with the one who was insulting him)?!? Was that really necessary?
Few people on this blog, such as OB, have a lot of experience and credibility in this human tragedy, wouldn't it be better to support them instead of muffling a possibly informative conversation?
It was very patronizing of you YUD, the moderator, me thinks.
fk

Hi Fatmakumru!

Please note that these messages as well as your last one are off topic and that you can contact us for any issues.

Regards
Armand

I am going to Benghazi in the end of August with my husband who is libyan... From his friends we know that the border is controlled by the rebels and as long you are libyan, or married to a libyan, there will be no problem for you to enter Libya. Dont need any visa either.

Hi there!
I just got back from working on a humanitarian project in Benghazi, and hopefully the following will be helpful:
1) We got a driver to take us from Cairo to Alexandria, and from there we picked up 2 Libyan taxis to take us through all the way to benghazi.  This seemed to work better than a previous team, who got Egyptain drivers to take them, as the Libyans are more trusted and accepted at the birder, and seem to be able to smooth our passage.
2) benina airport is operational, but mainly only for UN humanitarian flights in and out - and you can only get on them if you are a bona fide humanitarian organisation.  There is I believe Qatar airways running a flight out of there, as I saw on the say we left on the UN flight, but I dont have any details of this.
3) as an ex-pat, you definitely need all the paperwork to be in order and to be coming in on a bona fide humanitarian project.  if that is in order, they will welcome you with open arms!
4)  Although the Libyan side of the border is more relaxed, i wouldnt say that the rebels "dont care".  They are very friendly, but also very vigilant.  It is true though that neither ex-pats nor Libyans (obviously) need visas for the Libyan side.  HOWEVER - NB for the Egyptian side both ex-pats and Libyans now need visas!!!
5)  Although the road trip from Cairo to benghazi is LOOOOONG, it is relatively safe, and mostly on very good roads.  I hear that most teams going in use the desert road to Benghazi once inside the country, as it is both shorter and "safer" - but our drivers chose to take us by the coastal road, and we had no problems whatsoever.  It is longer - but much more beautiful!  (we did the road trip going in, and managed to get seats on the UN flight coming out)
6)  The situation on the ground in Benghazi is now relaytively stable - as stable as it can be, given the situation!!!  People are almost euphoric in their sense of freedom, and there are upbeat rallies every evening in Freedom square, where ppl share stories, challenge and encourage the crowd not to forget about their brothers and sisters in the rest of the country, sing songs, etc - and the atmosphere all around is very much like a party or festival!!  Around the square there are tents and photographs commemorating the martyrs who have already died or those whpo are missing, tables selling soub=veniurs, small food stalls sellingkebabs and "freedom tea", etc - and everyone (especially foreigners!!!) is welcome!
7)  At the same time there are daily deprivations, that you need to be aware of and sensitive to: electrcity comes and goes, internet is difficult to come by except at some hotels and internet cafes, there is a limit to the amount of money people may draw from the bank, the shops are reasonable well stocked still - but people have little money to buy much.
8)  Emotions are still running high (both euphoric and angry or grieving at the same time), and so as an expat please be sensitive to this, and understand the situation that our friends find themselves in, and try not to add to their distress.

Hope at least some of this is helpful!!!  If I can be of any further assistance, please inbox me.

Regards
Jenni

for the details.

Harmonie.

Thanks, Harmonie!!!

One more thing:  The "rebels" prefer to be called Freedom Fighters, and not "rebels".....good to remember when talking to people.... 

Hey Jenni, good update, glad your safe.
OB

officeboy wrote:

Hey Jenni, good update, glad your safe.
OB

Thanks Office Boy!  We had an amazing time there - also helped by the fact that I have two Libyan friends living in Benghazi!  :-)  It was sooooo good to be on Libyan soil again - broke my heart to have to come back out at the end of the 10 days.

Havent seen you on the blog before this crisis.  What's your story - and are you still there?...or are you assisting by remote control?...  ;-)  Please inbox me if you can - would love to know more, as I am looking for a way to get back in more permanently - though dont know how viable this would be right now....and dont want to put the local people under more stress than they already are...

Thanks Jenni Red
Great update, I wish someone had done the same for Tripoli.The journalistic accounts out of Rixos Hotel do not have the same familiar feel your post has. R there any humanitarian services operating in Tripoli too?
fk

fatmakumru wrote:

Thanks Jenni Red
Great update, I wish someone had done the same for Tripoli.The journalistic accounts out of Rixos Hotel do not have the same familiar feel your post has. R there any humanitarian services operating in Tripoli too?
fk

Pleasure, fatmakumru!  Thanks for the compliment.  I dont think there is a humanitarian service operating in tripoli (too dangerous) - but i may be wrong.  Office Boy may have better info about this - which I would love to know about, if so!!  :-)

Just saw a comment made on another discussion by Blue Jay - she seems to have better info about NGO's in Tripoli - maybe check with her?....

Libya is a war zone. In such a case the rules change and information posted on this forum can be a matter of life and death, and might be a desperate individual's only source of truth in a situation which is riddled with dis-information. Moderation can then become denial of vital information which negates the very existence of the site. Yes I know this is off-topic but I have been in circumstances like this and it is not pleasant. I think your treatment of Fatmakumru was unfair.

@Jenni thx for your vaule inof but i want know how long it take from egypt to benghazi by road and is it safe and how much it cost and where i can find this taxi in cairo or alex i wish if u can give me all this info.
thx in dvance