ReliefWeb

Intense fighting among rival armed groups in Libya's eastern towns of Benghazi and Derna, as well as in the country's southeast at Ubari and in the west at Kikla, is creating a deteriorating displacement crisis. At least 106,420 people have fled their homes in the past month alone, with the number of displaced since May now exceeding 393,000 people, according to UNHCR.

The displaced are scattered around 35 towns or cities and according to local authorities and NGOs, are in dire need of shelter, health care, food, water and other basic commodities. Host communities are also under pressure, many no longer able to cope with absorbing the large number of displaced.

Aid agencies are still trying to calculate the true scale of internal displacement and their humanitarian needs. The largest displacement has resulted from Benghazi, with reports of 56,500 people fleeing in the past few weeks, including 2,500 Tawerghans who had previously sought shelter there from violence in 2011.

There are also concerns about the welfare of some 14,000 of the 37,000 registered refugees and asylum-seekers (almost half from Syria) in Libya. Many are stranded in conflict zones or unable to provide food for themselves and their families. With no alternatives, many have irregularly departed by boats to Europe. So far this year, more than 156,000 have arrived in Italy – over 85 per cent departing from Libya.

The next Flash Update will be issued as soon as more information is available. For further inquiries, contact: Ms. Iman Shawwa, United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), shawwa@un.org