Highlights
• The United Nations estimates that 79,400 people (including 32,000 children) are in need of immediate life-saving humanitarian assistance and protection services as a consequence of the military activities in Sirte.
• According to reports, on 20 Septemeber an airstrike killed at least 9 civilians, including women and children and wounded 20 others near Sokna oasis in central Libya. UNICEF continues to call on all parties to the conflict in Libya to protect children from all forms of violence, to comply with international humanitarian law and to avoid targeting civilian infrastructure.
• During September, 410 newly registered children (234 girls and 176 boys) benefited from structured psychosocial support and recreational activities in 11 Child Friendly Spaces supported by UNICEF in Tripoli, Bani Walid, Benghazi, Azzawiyah, Sebha and Ghat.
• UNICEF opened new catch up classes for children displaced due to recent clashes in West Benghazi. To date, 179 children (Boys 56 & Girls 123) were enrolled raising the number of children benfiting from these classes to a total of 5,201 children.
• UNICEF is part of the United Nations Humanitarian Country Team flash appeal of US $10.7 million for the emergency response in Sirte. Despite some funding, to date a severe funding gap persists -especially in the health sector which is 90 per cent unfunded, hindering adequate response to the need of affected children and their families.
Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs
The humanitarian situation in Libya continues to deteriorate as a result of the continued constraints on cash liquidity, conflict and frequent electricity interruptions, which negatively affect the provision of basic social services.
The military operation continues in Sirte, where the United Nations estimates that 79,4001 people (including 32,000 children) are in need of immediate life-saving humanitarian assistance and protection services. UNICEF continues to prioritize the response to the deterioarated humanitarian situation in and around Sirte. UNICEF2 is part of the United Nations appeal for US $10.7 million urgently required to respond to Health, WASH and Child Protection needs of the affected population.
The latest IOM3 matrix identified a total of 348,372 IDPs, 310,265 returnees and 276,957 migrants in Libya. The primary areas of settlement for Libya’s IDP populations are Benghazi, Bani Walid,
Ajdabiya, Abu Salim and Al Bayd.a The most frequently cited areas of origin for the majority of IDPs areTawergha, Sirte and Benghazi.
UNHCR4 reports that the total number of registered individuals is 37,789, among which 28,489 are registered asylum seekers and 9,300 are registered refugees. UNHCR estimates the number of refugees in Libya at 100,000 personds and number of migrants at 150,000 persons.