UNHCR Update Libya (August 2023) [EN/AR]

Libya + 6 more

Highlights

Since several weeks many families and children have been staying in close vicinity of UNHCR’s Registration Centre in Serraj, including people who have made long and difficult journeys from Sudan to Libya, leaving their families and possessions behind. UNHCR has been deeply concerned about the well-being of the asylum-seekers and refugees sleeping outside, and together with partners, UNHCR has been continuously assessing the needs and vulnerabilities of each person and responding with assistance based on individual assessments. On 22 August, without any intervention by UNHCR, authorities peacefully asked people to leave the area which led to gatherings in front of UNHCR’s gate, resulting in an escalation of tension in the area. On 23 August, UNHCR will continue following up with the refugees and asylum-seekers staying in the vicinity of the Serraj Office by providing assistance and services while exploring possible durable solutions.

On 14 August, the heaviest clashes in months broke out in Tripoli. The tensions started after the head of the 444 Brigade was detained at Mitiga Airport by Al-Radaa Apparatus (formerly known as Special Deterrence Forces). Forces were deployed by both sides to various areas of Tripoli in addition to the mobilization by other armed groups in the city. On 16 August, fighting stopped after the colonel was released. Health authorities reported that 55 people were killed and 146 others were injured during the clashes. Services were suspended at UNHCR’s main office and the Community Day Centre (CDC) from 15 to 17 August and resumed on 20 August.

On 10 August, the Libyan Ministry of Interior (MoI) issued a statement, following the meeting of the Libyan and Tunisian Ministers of Interior in Tunisia on 9 August, announcing that the two sides have reached an agreement to move the “illegal migrants” from the Libyan-Tunisian border. A spokesperson from Tunisia's Ministry of Interior said that Tunisia will take charge of a group of 126 migrants while Libya will take charge of the remaining 150 migrants. As per the information received from the Directorate for Combatting Illegal Migration (DCIM) on 11 August, MoI-Libyan Border Guard (LBG) have transferred more than 300 people, including 130 people who had been evacuated from Ras Ajdir to DCIM detention centres in Tripoli. On 14 August, UNHCR visited Abusliem and Ain Zara detention centres to follow up on the transfers. As of 15 August, there were still 100 migrants at the LBG centre in Al-Assa. On 23 and 27 July, UNHCR along partner International Rescue Committee (IRC) had carried out joint visits to Al-Assa (120 km West of Zawya) to carry out verification, distribute food items and provide medical consultations. On 27 July, UNHCR and IOM had also issued a joint press release to appeal for urgent solutions for refugees and migrants stranded in the Tunisia and Libya borders.

On 9 August, a ceremony was held to mark the completion of the rehabilitation works at Al-Khansa School in Derna, the biggest girls’ school in the city. Around 1,300 students, many of whom are IDP returnees, will benefit from the project implemented by partner ACTED. The work, which was part of UNHCR’s Quick Impact Projects (QIPs), included enhancement of WASH facilities, electrical works, installing new doors and windows, interior painting, and general repair. QIPs are implemented in consultation with national and local authorities, and the active participation of local communities, aiming to strengthen the existing facilities and services in a participatory manner.From 30 July to 10 August, UNHCR, through partner LibAid, distributed non-food items (NFIs) to over 1,200 Tawerghan and Murzuq displaced families residing in Benghazi. Items included blankets, kitchen sets, solar lamps, plastic sheets, jerrycans, soaps and baby diapers. On 8 and 10 August, UNHCR also donated a prefabricated warehouse, adult diapers, and surgical face masks to Al- Kufra Atia Al-Kaseh Hospital.

In mid-August, UNHCR Libya launched a child friendly page as part of its Help Page in six languages, providing information about UNHCR’s activities and services in Libya in a child friendly language. UNHCR Libya is one of the few operations globally running the page in six languages, with an aim to ensure a wider range of accessibility by all nationalities and age groups. The page is one of the main tools strengthening UNHCR’s communication with the communities in Libya by providing a trusted source for updated information.

On the International Youth Day, UNHCR celebrated the power and potential of young people around the world. In Libya, UNHCR strives for supporting all young people across Libya through programmes such as the Sport for Peace project, designed and implemented by our partners Fútbol Más and Moomken, aiming to create a fun and educational environment where refugee and Libyan children can interact, play, and learn from each other. Since the beginning of 2023, more than 130 youngsters have participated in activities in the Abusliem Stadium as part of this project. Through sport, these young people have found a safe space to build relationships and develop skills.

On 13 August, UNHCR facilitated the reunification of a South Sudanese mother and her two daughters, who had been separated in a trafficking camp in Ejdabia. The mother had approached UNHCR asking about her children, who had then been identified by UNHCR staff through the database search. The family had emotional moments when they met each other at UNHCR’s Serraj Registration Centre.

On 8 August, two sessions on prevention of sexual abuse and exploitation (PSEA) took place in the CDC targeting Arabic speaking communities to focus on the definition of SEA and how to report it. The participants expressed their appreciation and requested for regular awareness sessions. On 9 August, Tawasul Call Centre facilitated an awareness session for the Community Mobilizers at the CDC. The session aimed to provide a detailed overview of the call centre's operations, objectives, and impact on the community. Outreach team also continued facilitating focus group discussions (FGDs) with people with disabilities from various nationalities. The participants shared their personal experiences and views on disability and its relation to access to education, transportation, information, healthcare, protection services, as well as acceptance by the host community.

Population Movements

So far in 2023, more than 9,800 individuals have been reported as rescued or intercepted by the Libyan authorities in 100 operations. Of those disembarked, the largest groups were from Bangladesh, Egypt, and Syria, while the nationality of the vast majority remained unrecorded due to the late notification of the disembarkation or lack of access to disembarkation points for UNHCR and partner IRC. Of the individuals who were recorded, 93 per cent were men, 5 per cent women, and 2 per cent children.