News

Leaving Libya: a personal story from a political crisis

Story for CM? Get in touch via email: [email protected]

Comments

  1. Hi Brian,

    I was on the University programme based on site with the intalian contractor Impregillo Lidco at the Misurata University. My role was to advise the ODAC project manager with regards to all aspects of the construction process in my normal capcaity of project manager.
    I share all your sentiments with regards to the local people and how safe I felt too.

    I also have many pictures of the roman sites that I spent most of my spare time at on Fridays (day off).
    Our contractor hadn`t been paid for 18months and the effects on the project were very hard. Never the less he did achieve some very good quality concreting in the 11 months I was there.

    The first sign of the trouble affecting our site was on the Saturday and I was told to stay on site for my safety. The advise I got from the FCO was “go to Tripoli airport” however that was impossible as there were no drivers willing to go as it was extremly dangerous with the numerous check points along the road controlled by various people some friendly locals and some not.

    We were all looked after by the local Libyan work force that the contractor had employed who assisted the Italian contractor and evenually by the italian Goverment who attempted to get us out via the Misurata Airport on the Tuesday which unfortunately failed with a local lad getting accidently shot in a terrible mis- understanding. But we finally got out via a private steel companies dock in Misurata port on board the San Giorgio War ship on the friday the 25th for what turned out to be a 36 hour cruise to Italy.

    I can`t quiet believe how the city of Misurata I walked arround on my fridays off, perfectly safe can be the centre of a running battle in the past few days with Tanks driving down the same streets shooting into peoples houses.

    I do hope the UN will help the people of Misuarata as they did for the people of Bengazi before its too late.

    I too would like to think I will be able to return one day to work or at least visit as a holiday.

  2. Caption of the airport pic above reads: “Aerial view: New Tripoli International Airport Project, which was scheduled for completion in 2013. The building in the centre is the existing terminal which was inundated with people trying to escape” The building in the center hasn’t been built yet, there was another one in its place which was badly damaged in clashes (Aug 2014) later almost completely torn down to be replaced by the one in the photo.

Comments are closed.

Latest articles in News