Attachments
9 May 2023
Key Figures:
134,787 Libyans currently internally displaced (IDPs)
695,516 IDP returnees
40,540 registered refugees and asylum-seekers
224 monitoring visits to detention centres so far in 2023
9 refugees and asylum-seekers were transferred from detention to urban setting so far in 2023
460 vulnerable refugees and asylum-seekers have departed so far in 2023
Funding
USD 70.0 M required for 2023
Highlights
On 4 May, UNHCR evacuated 179 asylum-seekers and refugees, including 37 women and 57 children, from Libya to safety, on UNHCR’s first evacuation flight of the year to the Emergency Transit Mechanism (ETM) in Niger. The group included children, women at risk, survivors of violence, people with medical conditions, survivors of trafficking, including some who had recently been released from detention.
In Niger, the asylum-seekers and refugees will stay at the ETM, where UNHCR will provide them with accommodation, assistance, and services, including medical care, psychosocial support, and language classes, while aiming to find durable solutions such as resettlement to third countries. UNHCR is grateful to the relevant Libyan authorities for their support in facilitating necessary formalities for these departures and continues to urge countries to provide more legal pathways to help some of the asylum- seekers and refugees most in need to reach safety out of Libya.
UNHCR, together with partners, continues to provide assistance to internally displaced Libyan families and those who returned to their areas of origin, as per the identified needs, in collaboration with the Libyan authorities. On 30 April, UNHCR, in partnership with LibAid, completed the distribution of hygiene kits to more than 1,100 Tawerghan displaced families in eight settlements in Benghazi. In addition, more than 150 displaced families in Ejdabia and 463 displaced families in Derna were targeted as part of this distribution.
UNHCR has been closely following up the outbreak of armed conflict in Sudan since mid-April. On 20 April, the Libyan authorities closed the border with Sudan and military reinforcements were deployed to Kufra. So far, although there has not been a significant increase in arrivals from Sudan, the operation, together with UN Country Team, has been preparing for different scenarios to ensure timely response for every possible situation which may arise.
Population Movements So far in 2023, more than 4,900 individuals have been reported as rescued or intercepted by the Libyan authorities. During the last three weeks, 22 operations were carried out, with more than 3,000 survivors. Five disembarkations were by the General Administration of Coastal Security (GACS) Al Maya Branch, six operations by the Libyan Coast Guard (LCG), seven operations by the Stabilization Support Apparatus, two operations by the Special Navy Forces, one operation jointly by LCG and Libyan Navy, and one operation by a fishing boat. Last week, partner International Rescue Committee (IRC) attended the disembarkation at Al-Shaab Port and provided medical assistance to the survivors.
UNHCR Response
UNHCR, with partners, continues to provide help and services to asylum-seekers and refugees at heightened risk. During the last three weeks, 39 best interest assessments and 79 protection needs assessments were conducted with children and adults to identify their protection concerns, and assess their needs, including referrals to specialized services. Partner CESVI provided emergency cash assistance to 88 refugee and asylum-seeker households (182 individuals). IRC distributed hygiene kits, blankets, tracksuits, slippers, soap, and jackets to 173 individuals, including 65 women and 34 children, at the Community Day Centre. IRC also targeted 148 asylum-seekers and refugees, including 67 women, with the distributions of non-food items in various areas of Tripoli.
As of 7 May, 5,554 people are estimated to be in detention centres across Libya, of whom more than 1,100 are from nationalities UNHCR registers in Libya. During the last three weeks, UNHCR in partnership with LibAid distributed non-food items and hygiene kits to 246 detainees, including 45 women and 11 children, in Al-Kufra detention centre.
UNHCR outreach team carried out four field visits to Janzour (Kobry Al Jafara) and Aldreibi areas in Tripoli targeting more than 500 individuals in consecutive visits. The areas host many individuals from Eritrea, Ethiopia, Sudan, and Syria, most of whom are survivors of trafficking. Several issues and vulnerabilities were identified, and referrals were made for specialized services according to the identified needs.