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FAST FACTS
- The conflict in Sudan has displaced more than 11 million people, including more than 2 million who have sought refuge in neighboring countries, with 215,000 arriving in Libya.
- Ensuring that displaced communities receive timely assistance is crucial. There is a need to provide access to healthcare, mental health support, food, shelter and essential household items.
OUR FOOTPRINT
- International Medical Corps was the first global humanitarian organization in Libya when the conflict began in 2011, and has since been providing critical health, nutrition, protection, mental health and psychosocial support, and water, sanitation and hygiene services.
OUR RESPONSE
- In Kufra, our medical team has conducted 18,519 consultations and distributed essential medical supplies and consumables in informal settlements and the city’s primary hospital.
Since mid-April 2023, the conflict in Sudan has led to the displacement of more than 11 million people, with more than 2 million crossing into neighboring countries to find safety. According to the latest UNHCR updates, the Sudanese refugee population in Libya reached 215,000 by the end of 2024. Estimates predict that 160,000 more will arrive in 2025, bringing the total to 375,000 by year’s end. Despite continued challenges with registration and tracking, authorities have confirmed that they receive hundreds of registration requests from Sudanese refugees every day. Additionally, there has been a continued influx of new refugees, with approximately 450 to 500 people arriving at informal camps on a daily basis. Kufra continues to experience a shortage of skilled healthcare staff required to operate multiple health facilities, mainly in the newly established Refugee Admission and Treatment Health Center and the Al-Shaheed Attia Hospital, which serve as the primary destinations for both the host community and Sudanese refugees seeking inpatient care. Both facilities are struggling with a shortage of qualified nurses and technicians in the medical and intensive-care departments. Al-Shaheed Attia Hospital urgently requires three anesthesiologists, 10 emergency physicians and additional emergency technicians to meet growing demands. Meanwhile, the Refugee Admission and Treatment Health Center requires a significant increase in staff, including 14 medical doctors, 20 nurses and technicians, as well as two infectious disease specialists and one emergency medicine specialist, to ensure efficient operations and quality patient care. In recent meetings, health authorities in Kufra have called upon all active humanitarian organizations to help fulfill the staffing requirements, to ensure the continuity of essential healthcare services for both refugees and host communities. Respiratory infections, dermatological conditions and chronic illnesses remain the most common health issues addressed by our team in both informal settlements and the hospital. On February 10, a fire erupted at the Alabaj settlement in Kufra, which hosts approximately 50 families. Though there were no casualties, four families lost their shelters and some non-food items (NFIs). Following the incident, the International Medical Corps team visited the settlement to assess the community’s health and ensure that those affected have access to healthcare.
International Medical Corps has also conducted a mental health and psychosocial support needs and resources assessment in Kufra, Tripoli, and Misrata, engaging 43 participants, 74% female and 26% male, from the migrant, refugee, and host communities. Data from Kufra revealed that Kufra Mental Health Center, the only facility providing mental health support, operates with 13 psychologists and 12 social workers, significantly restricting access to specialized care. Additionally, 85% of assessed health facilities in Kufra lack essential psychotropic medications and only 16% report intermittent availability. The referral system is dysfunctional, forcing patients to travel more than 1,000 km to Benghazi or Tripoli for specialized treatment, with poor roads and high costs further limiting access. Human resource shortages are critical, with only two trained mhGAP staff across district hospitals, primary healthcare centers, and basic health units. Psychological distress— including depression, anxiety and other behavior-related issues—is widespread,. Stigma remains a significant barrier, preventing people from seeking care. To address these challenges, recommendations include recruiting psychiatrists, expanding services, ensuring a stable supply of psychotropic medications, improving referral pathways, strengthening community-based support and increasing awareness campaigns to combat stigma and encourage help-seeking behavior