Scores of Tunisian families seek refuge on Algerian soil to flee misery at home

A large number of Tunisian families yesterday crossed the Algeria borders though the eastern province of Tebessa, looking for the nearest Algerian village in order to voice their anger in an unprecedented move at their miserable living conditions in Tunisia. Most of them dwell in the tiny Tunisian village of “Esbiba”.

• According to the families’ spokesman, the causes behind this “exodus” which forced the families to quit their homes 150 Kms behind, are mainly due to the miserable life they are leading there and dire lack of job opportunities.
• The 50 distressed families stormed the locality of Bir Al Ater ( far eastern Algeria) at dawn, forcing the Algerian border guards to intervene  to stop them going further into Algerian territory.
• For their part, the Tunisian authorities joined their Algerian counterparts and stretched across the area to prevent other attempts to cross the Algerian borders from other disgruntled Tunisian families.
• It should be noted that similar reasons drove Tunisian families to flee their home villages two years ago and crossed the Algerian borders to dwell in Algerian territory for a week. They agreed to return home after being assured by the Tunisian authorities that their social conditions will be taken in charge seriously.