Mohammed Abdul Kareem, an Iraqi painter from Najaf, helped organize an art exhibit at the Shousha refugee camp in southern Tunisia where he has been living in a tent with his family of six for eight months. (Copyright: WFP/Julia Stewart)

Art in Exile: Iraqi Paintings Find Refuge in Tunisia

Iraqi painter and arts professor Mohammed Abdul Kareem recently showed his work at an exhibition in Shousha camp in southern Tunisia where more than 3,600 people from over 30 countries await resettlement. The camp had received over this year tens of thousands of migrant workers, and sometimes professionals like Abdul Kareem, who fled the violence in Libya last February. The majority have returned home, those who remain are facing their second exile; like Abdul Kareem, they cannot go back to their countries.

Overview

Tunisia, located in central North Africa between Algeria and Libya, is coasted by the Mediterranean Sea strategically close to vital shipping routes for import and export.

Due to its natural resources and agricultural capabilities, Tunisia has a diverse economy. Besides the tourism and agriculture sectors, Tunisia’s major industries include manufactured goods and mining, which together account for over 50 percent of the country’s exports.

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Country at a glance 2013
Planned Beneficiaries99,000
Beneficiary needs (mt)0
Beneficiary needs ($US)12,824,308