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2017 Libya Humanitarian Needs Overview - November 2016

Countries
Libya
Sources
OCHA
Publication date

HUMANITARIAN NEEDS & KEY FIGURES

Civilians in Libya continue to suffer as a result of conflict, insecurity, political instability and a collapsing economy. An estimated 1.3 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance. Internally displaced people, refugees and migrants are identified as having the most severe needs. Returnees and non-displaced Libyans in the worst affected areas are also in need of humanitarian assistance.

Access to life-saving medical healthcare and essential medicines are the most critical needs, as well as protection of the most vulnerable groups and access to essential goods and services, including food, shelter and water and sanitation. Ongoing conflict and instability has restricted access to basic services, led to forced displacement and impacted people’s safety and security. Medical facilities have been damaged or destroyed and essential medicines are not available. At the same time, hundreds of thousands of people living in major cities are at high risk of death or serious injury due to explosive remnants of war (ERWs) and unexploded ordinance (UXOs). The most vulnerable people have little or no financial means or other coping mechanisms to protect and support themselves, and face high risks of being exploited. Access to essential household goods such as food has significantly reduced due to fighting, insecurity, market disruption, inflation and limited cash availability. In addition, basic community services and utilities are not functional mostly due to damage or a lack of management and resources, denying people access to water, fuel and electricity. The priority needs outlined below have been determined based on a life-saving criteria.

HUMANITARIAN NEEDS

Life-saving healthcare and essential medicines

The healthcare system in Libya has been brought to the brink of collapse by the crisis. As a result hundreds of thousands of people lack access to life-saving healthcare and essential medicines. Hospitals and medical centers have been damaged or destroyed. Medical personnel have fled the country. Doctors do not have the staff, functioning equipment or resources to work effectively. As the crisis persists and affected people become more vulnerable and exposed to risks, the need for functional medical services and medicines becomes ever more critical.

Protection of the most vulnerable groups

Effective protection of the most vulnerable people is severely hindered by ongoing conflict and violence across Libya, compounded by the absence of rule of law. As a result, people who are the least resilient to the impact of the crisis face alarming threats to their physical, legal and economic safety. Increased prices and competition over scarce resources, as well as limited coping abilities and low resilience of host communities, is further compounding the situation. The most vulnerable groups include people with no or low incomes and coping mechanisms such as displaced people, refugees and vulnerable migrants, and people with disabilities, older persons, children and women.

Access to essential goods and services

Access to essential goods and services, including food, shelter and water and sanitation, is an issue across Libya, mainly driven by conflict, insecurity and the economic crisis. The severity of the problem varies depending on the extent of infrastructural damage, security, resources and the resilience of populations. In locations such as Benghazi and Tripoli access to essential goods and services has been dramatically reduced particularly considering the large affected populations. The situation is also extremely concerning in locations such as Sirt and in the south.

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs: To learn more about OCHA's activities, please visit https://www.unocha.org/.