Choucha Camp

by Tom Szustek

Choucha camp, Tunisia, 7km from the Tunisian-Libyan border accommodates about 5 thousand African refugees who fled from Libya. The camp is run by UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) with substantial help from  NGO-s.

Despite efforts and good will to ensure good conditions, refugees suffer from the lack of drinkable water and complain about poor quality food. No security is provided in the camp at night time. Most of the refugees cannot return to their war-torn homelands. Western countries are unwilling to accept them.

On May 22nd, 2011, a tragic fire broke out in the camp claimed 4 lives. Desperate African refugees started a protest against conditions in the camp by blocking the road to the crossing border point in Ras Ajdir. Security forces violently crackdown on protesters. Most of the camp was looted, destroyed or burned during 3 days of unrest in the camp. Groups of refugees of different nationalities were fighting on each other, local Tunisians and army soldiers took part in these fightings as well.

Western journalists present at the scene were beaten by security forces and local Tunisians. Recording equipment was temporarily confiscated.

  • 2 African refugees holds their suitcases on their heads, Choucha camp
  • Refugees with suitcases walking into Choucha camp in the heavy desert wind
  • African refugees with suitcases walking into Choucha camp, Tunisia
  • 2 African refugees young and old, Choucha/Shousha refugee camp
  • Choucha/Shousha refugee camp, general view with hundreds of tents up to the horizon
  • Boy at the outskirts of the Choucha refugee camp with the desert in the background
  • 3 men at the mobile charging point at the Choucha refugee camp
  • 6 Muslim refugees making ablution before the prayer, Choucha refugee camp
  • Refugee secures the fence around his tent, Choucha refugee camp
  • Discarded toilets in the desert sand at the outskirts of Choucha refugee camp
  • Woman walks among the tents in Choucha camp, Tunisia
  • 3 African refugees inside the tent, Choucha camp
  • Girl washes her hands at the tap in Choucha refugee camp, Tunisia
  • Refugee entering the tent, Choucha refugee camp, Tunisia
  • 6 men - refugees inside the tent, Choucha refugee camp, Tunisia
  • 3 women, one with baby on her back near the burned tent, Choucha refugee camp,Tunisia
  • Refugee holds burned shoes, Choucha refugee camp,Tunisia
  • Men hold a paper documents with a portrait photo on it, Choucha refugee camp,Tunisia
  • Refugee shouts and holds a suitcase above his head during the protest in Choucha refugee camp
  • Big group of refugees walk along the road in a protest, Choucha refugee camp, Tunisia
  • African refugee lying on the road trying to stop the military vehicle during the protest at the Choucha refugee camp, Tunisia
  • Refugee shouts during the protest at the Choucha refugee camp,Tunisia
  • Soldiers oversee the protest at the Choucha refugee camp,Tunisia
  • Discarded food portions on the road during the protest at the Choucha refugee camp, Tunisia
  • Man walks through outskirts of Choucha refugee camp with desert int he background,Tunisia