CAIRO - High Commissioner Antonio Guterres wrapped-up a two-day mission to Egypt during which he evaluated UNHCR's humanitarian response to the displacement crisis triggered by the fighting in Libya. The critical humanitarian situation inside Libya remains a concern for UNHCR as thousands of people could be trapped in areas where fighting is taking place. UNHCR hopes it will be able, as part of the overall UN humanitarian response, to gain full humanitarian access to people inside eastern Libya in the coming days. In his meeting with Prime Minister Essam Sharaf, the High Commissioner thanked Egypt for keeping its borders open to all those fleeing Libya at a time when Egypt is dealing with its own complex changes. According to UNHCR team at the Sallum border crossing, movement across the Libya-Egypt border has slowed. A number of Libyan families from Brega and Benghazi arrived at Sallum following advances by Libyan government troops. Many reported fleeing battles between rebels and government forces.More than 161,000 people have crossed this border since mid-February, including some 83,000 Egyptians and 32,000 Libyans.
