ReliefWeb

Summary

• The encirclement and closure of Derna, which intensified late July, continues and limited amounts of humanitarian assistance, mainly medical supplies, have been allowed to enter.

• There are increasing concerns about movement restrictions placed on civilians and the protection of civilians. To 09 October, at least three health professionals have been taken at checkpoints surrounding or near Derna and remain detained incommunicado.

Situation Overview

The military encirclement imposed by the Libyan National Army around Derna continues into October and severe movement restrictions are imposed on people attempting to enter or leave Derna, including for medical care, to pursue their studies or to stock up on essential items, such as food or fuel. While Derna has seen restrictions on movement into the city and disruptions of supplies to varying degrees over the past three years, the current situation exacerbates the impact on the city’s civilian population.

Derna residents reported facing additional difficulties and, at times, harassment or violence at checkpoints around Derna. This includes the use of warning shots at checkpoints seemingly to disperse people trying to pass the checkpoints, which has on at least one occasion (18 September) resulted in a 60-year-old man being injured by shrapnel.

On three separate occasions on 21 September and 1 and 5 October, health professionals have been stopped at the checkpoints and detained. Reportedly, at least two are being held at Gernada detention facility without any contact with the outside world. The detention of essential healthcare staff has a further negative impact on the health services in the city. Other instances of civilians being detained at or near the checkpoints are also reported. Patients who need to seek medical treatment outside of Derna due to the absence of suitable care inside Derna report delays in passing through the check points or are prevented from leaving. For instance, on 5 September, an ambulance carrying a 93-year-old man with a broken pelvis was prevented from leaving.

Restrictions on the entry of goods to Derna, including flour and other foodstuffs, fuel and medicine remain in place. Civilians in Derna are also suffering from liquidity challenges, while the cost of basic items, including fuel, has increased. Residents also reported challenges in solid waste disposal due to fuel shortages. This could result in potential public health risks.

The main humanitarian needs are: medicines and medical supplies, in particular vaccines and oxygen, food items, fuel to ensure the continued functioning of critical installations, such as hospitals and water installations, spare parts for the desalination plant.

On at least one occasion, a truck with medicine brought in through local actors, was turned back, reportedly after shots had been fired at the driver. Several trucks carrying flour were also reportedly turned back. However, there also are allegations that shipments of basic commodities did not reach the intended recipients.

At least 100,0001 people are deemed to be affected by the current situation.

Humanitarian Response

Emergency medical shipments take place on an irregular basis through both humanitarian partners and local actors. Local actors have, on occasion, also been able to ensure the entry of other basic commodities. Several humanitarian deliveries by the international humanitarian community continue to wait for permission to enter. The international humanitarian actors are willing to accompany these shipments and monitor their distribution, and also stand ready to further assess the humanitarian situation and needs.

Increased and sustained access for urgent humanitarian assistance to Derna is required. Humanitarian actors are calling on all parties to:

• Meet their obligations under international humanitarian and human rights law and ensure civilians’ freedom of movement and facilitate the safe exit of those civilians wishing to leave Derna.

• Allow access of humanitarian assistance intended for civilians in need, lift restrictions on the movement of humanitarian relief personnel and civilians, and grant humanitarian organizations unimpeded access to Derna.

• Ensure the safety and sanctity of health infrastructure (hospitals, clinics, etc) and health human resources as enshrined in successive World Health Assembly Resolutions.

• Release Derna residents detained solely for exercising their right to freedom of expression or on account of their origin, opinions or affiliations. All other detainees should be promptly brought in front of judicial authorities or released.

OCHA will continue to monitor the situation in consultation with humanitarian partners on the ground.
Further updates will be issued should the situation require.