IKEA Foundation donates mattresses, duvets and
covers for Libya-displaced
24 May 2011
IKEA has been furnishing homes around the world for years. It has also been providing
humanitarian aid to some of the world's neediest people, including those fleeing the
violence in Libya.
The world's largest home furnishing company, through the IKEA Foundation, is donating
some of its bedroom products to the forcibly displaced in Tunisia under a partnership
with UNHCR.
UNHCR staff last week began distributing thousands of mattresses, duvets (quilts) and
duvet covers to refugees and migrant workers living in tents at Choucha camp, which is
located close to the Ras Adjir crossing on Tunisia's border with Libya. Tens of thousands
of people have passed through the camp after fleeing from the violence that has been
sweeping Libya since mid-February.
Some of the items were also distributed in Remada camp, further south, among Libyan
refugees displaced by fighting in the Western Mountains. UNHCR plans to include IKEA
mattresses and duvets in aid packages for Libyan families staying with host communities
in the provinces of Tataouine and Medinine, which are together hosting up to 50,000
Libyan refugees.
The IKEA Foundation has pledged 50,000 mattresses, 50,000 duvets and 50,000 duvet
covers for UNHCR's operation to help those displaced by the violence in Libya. The first
10,000 mattresses were flown to Tunisia last week, free of charge, by UPS, another of
UNHCR's corporate partners. The remaining items are due to arrive in Tunisia over the
next month.
Since mid-February, more than 400,000 people have fled to Tunisia from Libya,
including Tunisians, Libyans, refugees, asylum-seekers and migrant workers.
The IKEA Foundation has donated cash, goods and services worth more than US$10
million to the refugee agency since October 2010. Its generosity has helped forcibly
displaced people in Kyrgyzstan and Somali refugees in Kenya.
www.ikeafoundation.org