Situation-Libya -  The second batch of Ghanaians stranded in Libya were flown back home on Tuesday, as the government announced the establishment of an Evacuation Liaison Post at Salum, a border post on the Egypt-Libya border, to coordinate the evacuation of its citizens from the North African country. Ninety-five Ghaianans arrived on board an Egypt Air flight from Cairo bringing the total number evacuated so far to 150. All the evacuees were picked from the Libya-Egypt Libya and sent to Cairo by the Ghana Embassy in Egypt where they were processed and put on board the flight.

Another 125 persons have been processed and are at the Cairo International Airport awaiting movement to Ghana, according to an official statement signed by Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, a deputy minister of Information.

It said 197 more were currently being processed at the Ghana Evacuation Liaison Post at Salum.

The statement said a six-member team, including medical personnel, National Security, and a journalist from the Ghana News Agency (GNA), leave Accra on Tuesday night for Cairo en route to Salum 'to augment the Evacuation Liaison Post which has since 24 February been manned by an advance party from the Ghana Embassy in Cairo, Egypt'.

The statement explained that at the post, Ghanaians who arrive at the Egyptian border are processed and conveyed with the assistance of the International Organization for Immigration (IOM) and the Egyptian security agencies, to a pre-departure holding place at the Cairo International Airport. 

'Both at Salum and the Cairo International Airport, the Ghanaians are given food and water to sustain them.'

The statement said similar efforts were being made for the Tunisia-Libya border whiles existing arrangements to airlift those in Tripoli and other cities in Libya continued.

Foreigners have been fleeing Libya because of the political crisis that has hit the country as opposition forces fight to overthrow the government of Mouammar Khadafi.

Pana 02/03/2011