Art provides comfort and hope to Eritrean refugee in Libya – UNHCR
In an unfinished building in a downtrodden neighbourhood of Tripoli, Solomon Gebreyonas Alema, a 29-year-old Eritrean refugee, can be found most days sketching and painting.
One small room in the dimly lit, overcrowded building that houses around 200 refugees from Eritrea, Ethiopia and Sudan has been designated by the residents as an art room a space for people to paint, draw, write and play music.
Since mid-March, few residents have been able to venture far from the building due to stringent restrictions on movement introduced to limit the spread of COVID-19 in Libya, as well as ongoing security concerns linked to the conflict in Tripoli, which until recently had raged for more than a year. This has prevented most from being able to earn money through daily labour.
"Painting means life to me..."
Painting means life to me, I dont want to be separated from it, said Solomon, as he displayed his sketches and drawings. When we get money, we spend it on necessary essentials like food and rent. Even so, because art is a necessary thing for me, for my life, my friends and other people around me help in whatever way they can by providing some items for painting and drawing.
Solomon has been drawing and painting since he was a young child. He is self-taught and never attended formal art classes. His faith informs much of his work large canvases in rich, vibrant colours portraying scenes from the bible, including figures of saints.
Painting these not only gives him purpose and inspiration, said Solomon, but has also helped other Eritrean and Ethiopian refugees struggling to get by in Libya.
We dont have any place to pray here in this country. So we use these pictures he explained. When people pray, it gives them hope. Using this painting to pray helps them with their faith and makes them feel they are protected from danger.
Much of Solomon's work is inspired by his faith, featuring images of saints and other biblical scenes.UNHCR/Mohamed Alalem
Painting for me means life, I don't want to be separated from it," Solomon explains. UNHCR/Mohamed Alalem
Solomon, who has no formal art training, sketches a new design in pencil.UNHCR/Mohamed Alalem
One of Solomon's completed works is affixed to the wall of the art room.UNHCR/Mohamed Alalem
Solomon displays his paint-spattered hands after working in the art room that he shares with other residents.UNHCR/Mohamed Alalem
There are currently close to 49,000 registered refugees and asylum seekers living in Libya. Many face violence and abuse on their journeys here, as well as in detention when they reach the country. Most continue to face huge challenges on a daily basis as they struggle to get by.
Many were smuggled into the country, like Solomon, who left his home and family determined to find a safe place to study and make a career as a professional painter. He paid smugglers US$5,500 to take him to Europe, which he paid for with the help of his mother, who sold her gold jewellery, and money from relatives in the Eritrean diaspora.
His attempt to reach Europe by boat, however, ended when the vessel was intercepted by the Libyan Coast Guard, and he was put in a detention centre with others.
On his release into the urban community in Tripoli, he developed tuberculosis a common disease among refugees living in cramped, unsanitary conditions and re-entered another detention centre in order to seek medical assistance, which he was unable to afford outside with no means to support himself.
"...people live a hand-to-mouth existence."
He is grateful now to be living in a place where he has the support of others in his community, despite the tough conditions.
People's thoughts are very much on coronavirus. They are so worried because most of the people live a hand-to-mouth existence, he explained, saying that with his housemates and friends, food and other items are shared among the group.
I honestly would prefer to spend everything I have on materials to paint. But life is very difficult and it is not easy to focus on painting when there are other really important things that are priorities for us, necessities for us to survive, he said.
UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, and its partners provide help to refugees and asylum seekers in urban settings in Libya, including documentation, cash assistance to the most vulnerable, hygiene and household items, medical assistance and psychosocial support.
Together with the U.N. World Food Programme, the agency will also start providing monthly emergency food assistance for up to 10,000 refugees and asylum seekers until the end of the year, to help those struggling to provide for themselves having lost access to daily work due to the COVID-19 restrictions.
See also: UNHCR, WFP join forces to reach thousands of refugees and asylum-seekers in Libya with emergency food aid
One of Solomons most recent sketches, which he is turning into a painting, shows life in Tripoli during the coronavirus pandemic. One side of the drawing depicts the city at war: shelling, fighting and tanks on the move; on the other side, a man wears protective clothing as he sprays disinfectant to fight the disease.
In the centre, surrounded by people who are praying and washing their hands, is a Madonna-like mother and baby. These central figures are protected by the shade of an umbrella, with the letters UNCHR written on it.
I have tried my best to focus on my art, he explained. We have tried to stick with the little hope that we have. And one thing that has given us all hope is having UNHCR's help.
We have a feeling that somehow, we are safe. We didnt lose hope due to this and due to our faith. We didnt give up.
More here:
Art provides comfort and hope to Eritrean refugee in Libya - UNHCR
- Libya's reconstruction of Derna: 'A windfall for the Haftar clan' - Le Monde - September 21st, 2024 [September 21st, 2024]
- Court convicts former ambassadors, health officials, and cultural attachs at Libyan mission in Ukraine - Libya Herald - September 21st, 2024 [September 21st, 2024]
- Libyan European Transport Forum takes place in Tunis from 19 to 20 September - Libya Herald - September 21st, 2024 [September 21st, 2024]
- Sudan Situation: Sudanese Refugees and Asylum-Seekers in Libya - As of 15 Sep 2024 - ReliefWeb - September 21st, 2024 [September 21st, 2024]
- Egypt follows deadly overturning incident of vehicle carrying Egyptians in Libya - Egypt Today - September 21st, 2024 [September 21st, 2024]
- From Russia to Libya: Israel Has Adopted the Appalling Practice of Drafting Asylum Seekers - Haaretz - September 16th, 2024 [September 16th, 2024]
- With reconstruction in mind, can Turkey-Egypt thaw offer lifeline for Libya? - Al-Monitor - September 16th, 2024 [September 16th, 2024]
- FIFA Futsal World Cup: Libya emerge victorious, Angola stumble in opening ties. - CAFOnline.com - September 16th, 2024 [September 16th, 2024]
- Libya's central bank chaos must serve as a wake-up call for the West - Euronews - September 14th, 2024 [September 14th, 2024]
- One year since flooding devastated Libya - WBUR News - September 14th, 2024 [September 14th, 2024]
- Civil society should work together to be the drivers of change and overcome the divide in Libya, says USG DiCarlo [EN/AR] - ReliefWeb - September 14th, 2024 [September 14th, 2024]
- EU EXTERNAL PARTNERS: Frontex Denies Involvement in Pushbacks and Defends 400 Million Expansion Tender Thousands Pushed Back to Niger from Algeria... - September 14th, 2024 [September 14th, 2024]
- One-Year Commemoration of the Eastern Libya Floods - UNICEF - September 14th, 2024 [September 14th, 2024]
- Internal Shadows: The Unseen Plights of Libya's IDPs - Carnegie Endowment for International Peace - September 14th, 2024 [September 14th, 2024]
- Focus - Libya: One year after deadly floods, reconstruction in full swing in Derna - FRANCE 24 English - September 12th, 2024 [September 12th, 2024]
- Libya's Derna floods: Mourning a year later the loss of mums, dads and kids - BBC.com - September 12th, 2024 [September 12th, 2024]
- Turkey interested in Libya's offer of offshore exploration, says energy minister - Reuters - September 12th, 2024 [September 12th, 2024]
- A year on, Libya flood survivors grieve for their dead - Reuters - September 12th, 2024 [September 12th, 2024]
- Libya, EIA forecasts oil production of 600.000 barrels in the remaining months of 2024 - Agenzia Nova - September 12th, 2024 [September 12th, 2024]
- UNICEF Fact sheet: One - Year commemoration of the Eastern Libya floods [EN/AR] - ReliefWeb - September 12th, 2024 [September 12th, 2024]
- Goals and summary of the Benin 2-1 Libya in the Qualifiers CAF - VAVEL.com - September 12th, 2024 [September 12th, 2024]
- Libya is a step further towards adapting to climate change: GIZ - Libya Herald - September 12th, 2024 [September 12th, 2024]
- In Libya's Derna, Haftar using reconstruction to boost popularity one year after floods - Middle East Eye - September 10th, 2024 [September 10th, 2024]
- Top U.S. General Meets With Alleged War Criminal in Libya - The Intercept - September 10th, 2024 [September 10th, 2024]
- Libya: Internal Security Agency must be held accountable for deaths in custody, enforced disappearances and arbitrary detention - Amnesty... - September 10th, 2024 [September 10th, 2024]
- UNICE Fact sheet: One - Year commemoration of the Eastern Libya floods [EN/AR] - ReliefWeb - September 10th, 2024 [September 10th, 2024]
- Eastern Libya signs MoU to construct its section of the Egypt Libya - Chad Transit Road Project - Libya Herald - September 10th, 2024 [September 10th, 2024]
- Libya factions agree to appoint central bank governor in bid to ease crisis - Reuters.com - September 10th, 2024 [September 10th, 2024]
- Never mind the BRICS, focus on Libya - Duvar English - September 10th, 2024 [September 10th, 2024]
- Libya Construction Expo 2024 will be held from 28 to 31 October at Tripoli International Fairgrounds - Libya Herald - September 10th, 2024 [September 10th, 2024]
- AmCham Libya supporting high-level Libyan delegation to WEFTEC 2024 5 to 9 October, New Orleans, Louisiana - Libya Herald - September 10th, 2024 [September 10th, 2024]
- Libya at the brink of an imminent power crisis due to shortage of fuel - The North Africa Post - September 10th, 2024 [September 10th, 2024]
- Benin vs Libya Prediction and Betting Tips | 10th September 2024 - Sportskeeda - September 10th, 2024 [September 10th, 2024]
- Egyptian food exports to Libya amounted to US$ 183 million up to July an increase of 18 percent - Libya Herald - September 10th, 2024 [September 10th, 2024]
- Turkey Blocks Libya Arms Inspection For 12th Time, Raising Concerns About Commitment To Embargo - GreekCityTimes.com - September 10th, 2024 [September 10th, 2024]
- Africa News Tonight: China-Africa summit winds down, UN tries to end dispute over Libya central bank, Malawi aims to boost road safety - VOA Africa - September 10th, 2024 [September 10th, 2024]
- Notorious human trafficker sanctioned by the UN killed in Western Libya - The Jerusalem Post - September 10th, 2024 [September 10th, 2024]
- Libya central bank governor, other bankers flee to avoid militias, FT says - Reuters - September 2nd, 2024 [September 2nd, 2024]
- Expert predicts revolution in Libya, fears crisis far worse than 2011 - The Jerusalem Post - September 2nd, 2024 [September 2nd, 2024]
- Libya: UN report urges accountability for years of human rights violations in Tarhuna - OHCHR - September 2nd, 2024 [September 2nd, 2024]
- Africa File, August 29, 2024: North African Competition in the Sahel; Libya on the Edge; Burkina Faso is Spiraling - Institute for the Study of War - September 2nd, 2024 [September 2nd, 2024]
- 'Crumbling': Libya's warring factions dig in for fight over oil profits - Middle East Eye - September 2nd, 2024 [September 2nd, 2024]
- Oil Drops in Technical Correction From Rally on Libya Disruption - Yahoo Finance - September 2nd, 2024 [September 2nd, 2024]
- Libya upheaval: Why Turkey is mum over heightened tensions in Tripoli - Al-Monitor - September 2nd, 2024 [September 2nd, 2024]
- Libya: The President of the Senate asks to shed light on the death of Bija - Agenzia Nova - September 2nd, 2024 [September 2nd, 2024]
- Libya : Ousted central bank governor flees with the keys - Africa Intelligence - September 2nd, 2024 [September 2nd, 2024]
- U.S. calls for steps to maintain the credibility of the CBL - Libya Herald - September 2nd, 2024 [September 2nd, 2024]
- U.S. crude oil rebounds nearly 2% on major supply disruption in Libya and Iraq output cut - CNBC - September 2nd, 2024 [September 2nd, 2024]
- Libya: Italian cuisine protagonist of the Mena Agro Food Expo 2024 in Benghazi - Agenzia Nova - September 2nd, 2024 [September 2nd, 2024]
- Is there an end in sight for the Libya oil crisis? - The National - September 2nd, 2024 [September 2nd, 2024]
- All of Libya Held Hostage by Gunmen Targeting the Central Bank - The Washington Institute - August 25th, 2024 [August 25th, 2024]
- Sophie Kemkhadze joins as the new Resident Representative in Libya - United Nations Development Programme - August 25th, 2024 [August 25th, 2024]
- EU official targets Trkiye over growing influence in Africa, Libya - Trkiye Today - August 25th, 2024 [August 25th, 2024]
- Libya's instability will worsen further without a unified government and elections, UN envoy says - The Associated Press - August 22nd, 2024 [August 22nd, 2024]
- Will turmoil in Libya spill over into the region? - Al Jazeera English - August 22nd, 2024 [August 22nd, 2024]
- Libya: Behind abduction and failed central bank coup in Tripoli - Al-Monitor - August 22nd, 2024 [August 22nd, 2024]
- UN officials warn of further instability in Libya without elections soon - The Jerusalem Post - August 22nd, 2024 [August 22nd, 2024]
- Production at Libya's Sharara oilfield rises to 85,000 bpd to supply refinery, sources say - Reuters - August 22nd, 2024 [August 22nd, 2024]
- Small volumes of gas flowing to Italy from Libya - MEED - August 22nd, 2024 [August 22nd, 2024]
- Libya: the Brega oil company distributes fuel to citizens affected by floods in the south - Agenzia Nova - August 22nd, 2024 [August 22nd, 2024]
- Libyan Industry Union organises workshop on Libyan Industrial Exports - Reality and Prospects - Libya Herald - August 22nd, 2024 [August 22nd, 2024]
- Conflict Is Brewing in Libya Once Again - OilPrice.com - August 22nd, 2024 [August 22nd, 2024]
- Libya's Almadar Aljadid, Vox Solutions ink SMS and voice gateway deal - Connecting Africa - August 22nd, 2024 [August 22nd, 2024]
- UN warns of rapidly deteriorating situation in Libya - Morning Star Online - August 22nd, 2024 [August 22nd, 2024]
- Arbitrary detentions and impunity widespread in Libya, warns UNs Trk - Welcome to the United Nations - July 10th, 2024 [July 10th, 2024]
- Mass Graves of Migrants in Libya: An End to a Dream for a Better Life in Europe - Asharq Al-awsat - English - July 10th, 2024 [July 10th, 2024]
- Marshal Haftar Meets with Greek Ambassador to Strengthen Bilateral Relations - Libya Update - July 10th, 2024 [July 10th, 2024]
- Morocco And The UN: Paving The Path To Peace In Libya OpEd - Eurasia Review - July 10th, 2024 [July 10th, 2024]
- Libya and Russia discuss reactivating the construction of the railway project - Libya Herald - July 10th, 2024 [July 10th, 2024]
- UN probing reported mass grave on Libya-Tunisia border - Yahoo! Voices - July 10th, 2024 [July 10th, 2024]
- NDA Partners with Turkish Firm TGG to Construct Modern Tower Complex in Benghazi - Libya Update - July 10th, 2024 [July 10th, 2024]
- Efforts to increase trade between Indonesia and Libya - Libya Herald - July 10th, 2024 [July 10th, 2024]
- EU says ready to support Libya's efforts to achieve peace and transitional justice - The Libya Observer - July 10th, 2024 [July 10th, 2024]
- AmCham Libya hosts meetings during recent visit of U.S. Embassy Commercial and Economic Officer David Morrison - Libya Herald - July 8th, 2024 [July 8th, 2024]
- Spanish doctors visit Libya in their 12th campaign 500 surgeries would have been performed since 2022 - Libya Herald - July 8th, 2024 [July 8th, 2024]
- Libyan olive oil wins gold and silver in U.S. olive oil competition - Libya Herald - July 8th, 2024 [July 8th, 2024]
- As fighting rages in Sudan, refugee aid efforts expand to two new countries - ReliefWeb - July 8th, 2024 [July 8th, 2024]
- Libya's special envoy resigned. What's next for the country? - Atlantic Council - May 27th, 2024 [May 27th, 2024]
- Comment: The IVECO-TbCo impasse was resolved by hard work and determination to continue a business relationship ... - Libya Herald - May 27th, 2024 [May 27th, 2024]
- Two Libyan olive oil brands win gold at Athens International Olive Oil Competition 2024 - Libya Herald - May 27th, 2024 [May 27th, 2024]