UNHCR Flash Update Libya (2 - 9 November 2018) [EN/AR]

Population Movements

On 7 November, UNHCR resettled 44 refugees from Libya to Italy. With the assistance of IOM, the UN Migration Agency, the resettled individuals departed from Tripoli to Rome, despite intermittent skirmishes near Mitiga airport the night before.

Upon arriving in the Italian capital, the refugees were received by UNHCR and IOM staff, as well as cultural mediators. The resettlement of vulnerable refugees is supported by the European Union’s Regional Development & Protection Programme for North Africa (RDPPNA). Since September 2017, almost 1,000 cases have been submitted to resettlement countries by UNHCR in Libya.

As of 5 November 2018, 12 states have committed 3,886 resettlement places for the Libya-Niger situation. The 12 States are Belgium, Canada, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. Out of these pledges, 1,090 are allocated for resettlement processing directly from Libya. UNHCR calls on countries to provide additional resettlement opportunities for vulnerable persons of concern in Libya.

UNHCR Response

So far in 2018, UNHCR implemented 88 quick impact projects (QIPs) in Libya.

During the reporting period, UNHCR and its partner ACTED supported a school for displaced (IDP) children in Guanfooda (Benghazi) with educational equipment, including computers, printers, stationary, and recreational materials. UNHCR also improved the school’s electric system. In addition, with its partner Mercy Corps, UNHCR provided medical equipment to a clinic in Sonka (southwest Libya).

An estimated 5,413 refugees and migrants are presently held in DCIM operated detention centres in Libya, of whom 3,988 are persons of concern to UNHCR. During the week, UNHCR conducted protection monitoring visits at the following detention centres: Abu Salim, Ghaser Ben Ghashir, Tajoura, Sabaa, and Sikka. UNHCR distributed core relief items (CRIs) to 900 individuals in Tajoura, and provided medical assistance to 289 migrants and refugees through its partner International Medical Corps (IMC). So far in 2018, UNHCR and IMC have provided 21,658 medical consultations in detention centres.

UNHCR continued its school bag campaign to support refugees and displaced children by distributing 3,554 school bags in Sabha, Talaae Alnaser, Tarhuna, Misrata, Tawerga school, Al-Fallah IDP camp in Tripoli and in Tajoura. Due to the liquidity crisis in Libya, the cost of school materials has significantly increased over the past years. Through this campaign, UNHCR aims to mitigate the financial impact that the start of the school year has on refugee and IDP families and thereby secure affected children’s school attendance.

With temperatures rapidly decreasing in Libya, UNHCR started its winterization campaign which will target refugees, IDPs and returnees across Libya. A total of 5,680 IDP families will be reached with warm clothes and winter CRIs (including heaters). During the week, the first 500 IDP families received winter support in the Nafusa Mountains.