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Country Context
Since the conflict in Sudan began in April 2023, Libya has seen a significant influx of Sudanese refugees, primarily entering through key points such as Alkufra, Tobruk, and the southern border. As of December 2024, there have been around 400 daily arrivals in Alkufra, southeastern Libya - a region with harsh, arid conditions and few public services available. Once being medically cleared and registered with the authorities in Alkufra, refugees will normally try to reach coastal cities like Benghazi and Tripoli, but face challenges in doing so, including limited and expensive transport options. The difficult conditions make movement from the border extremely challenging for many refugees, while host communities in Alkufra feel the strain of overstretched services.
Once registered with eastern authorities in Alkufra, Sudanese refugees are provided with security cards that allow them freedom of movement and access to public services. UNHCR is only allowed to register refugees in Tripoli with no government registration in place in the West. As of 31 December 2024, there were 57,6486 Sudanese refugees and asylum-seekers registered with UNHCR in Libya, and approximately 1,116 Sudanese cases are scheduled for registration. Sudanese refugees are fleeing an increasingly dire situation in Darfur, where violence is intensifying: 56% of Sudanese refugees have prior residence in Darfur and 32% from Khartoum. Approximately 44% of the new arrivals are women and 45% children. They face critical shortages in healthcare, water, sanitation, and hygiene services, and temporary accommodation – currently most live under plastic sheeting – overwhelming the already limited resources in Libya. Moreover, school-aged children need access to education, many of whom have already missed a year of schooling.
UNHCR's strategic priority is to support the response by Libyan authorities to enhance the protection environment with a focus on access to legal documentation and provide life-saving assistance to displaced populations, asylum seekers, and refugees, while also seeking solutions for most vulnerable groups. There are growing concerns that many refugees in Libya may attempt the dangerous Mediterranean crossing to Europe if they do not receive adequate support. UNHCR will also prioritize activities that support social cohesion with hosting communities.