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Add to Preferred Sources- In 2017, an estimated 1.3 million people including 439,000 children were in need of urgent humanitarian assistance in Libya due to the continued conflict, insecurity, and the collapsing economy. The periodic escalations of armed conflict that took place in 2017 further aggravated the humanitarian needs especially for the most vulnerable people including children. In addition, towards the end of 2017, an estimated 400,000 migrants and refugees were estimated to be in Libya including over 33,000 children exposed to huge protection risks and human rights violations.
- During 2017, the UNICEF and partners provided 30,394 children (16,607 girls) with community and school-based psychosocial support in the East, West and South of Libya while 1,393 children survivors of Gender-based Violence (726 girls, 667 boys) received specialized services.
- 26,639 children (13,390 girls), including 300 children with disabilities, enrolled in catch up and remedial education classes in conflict-affected and underserved areas such as Benghazi, Sirte and Southern part of Libya.
- Through the installation and rehabilitation of latrines, drainage networks and fumigation campaigns, a total of 100,450 people gained access to improved sanitation facilities.
- The polio vaccination campaigns reached universal coverage with around 1,53 million children aged 0-6 years vaccinated while, 721,488 children aged 3-6 years received Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR) vaccines in 2017.
Situation in Numbers
- 1.33 million people in need of humanitarian assistance
- 439,000 children in need of humanitarian assistance
- 500,000 people, including 200,000 children, in need of safe water, sanitation and hygiene
- 315,000 children in need of education in emergency support
Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs
As the conflict in Libya entered its sixth year, the humanitarian situation is still showing no signs of improvement in some parts of the country. The latest Humanitarian Needs Overview 2018, estimates that 1,1 million people of whom 378,000 are children and 453,000 are women require life-saving humanitarian assistance and protection. 2017 witnessed periodic eruption of localized conflicts in various parts of Libya, such as Benghazi, Derna, Sirte and Sabratha which triggered displacements and affected Internally Displaced Persons and returnees. Disruption of access to quality basic social services, water, sanitation, health, protection and education as well as electricity and water cuts, which lasted for a few days in some incidents, have affected the living conditions of vulnerable people.
Libya remains the “gatekeeper” for the migration crisis in the region, IOM1 estimates that there are 621,706 migrants in Libya, 9 percent of whom are minors (out of these minors, 59 percent were reported as accompanied and 41 percent as unaccompanied). UNHCR had registered 45,129 refugees and asylum seekers as per December 20172, many of these people are reported to be victims of discrimination, arbitrary arrest and detention. At the political level, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) launched the Action Plan for Libya which calls for the amendment of the Libyan Political Agreement, organization of a National Conference, preparation for elections, and provision of humanitarian assistance.
Original source: UNICEF
Published on 22 January 2018