Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Crisis Situation Report No. 47 30 June 2011 This report is produced by OCHA in collaboration with humanitarian partners. It was issued by HQ and prepared by OCHA Libya. It covers the period from 24 to 30June. The next report will be issued on or around 7 July. I. HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PRIORITIES Concerns about disruptions to public food distribution, as food stocks depleted faster than replenished. Urgent requirement to replenish depleted medical supplies and equipment in Libya. Power shortages affect the water supply in several areas. II. Situation Overview Due to the unstable security situation humanitarian access remains restricted, particularly in Government of Libya controlled areas. This constrains the ability of humanitarian actors to assess needs, provide targeted assistance and monitor protection concerns. Some assistance is reaching affected populations in areas of fighting via Libyan diaspora organisations. Most international humanitarian actors are operating inside opposition-controlled areas. Continued fighting has been reported in parts of the Nafusa Mountains, Bir Ghanam (near the Nafusa Mountains, 80 km from Tripoli), Zlitan (60 km west of Misrata) and Brega (on the coast southwest of Ajdabiya). As yet, no new, unmet humanitarian needs have been reported as a direct result of fighting this week. Few, if any, civilians remain in areas where most of the fighting is taking place (around the front lines ). The humanitarian presence in the Nafusa Mountains continues to grow. INGOs operating in the area have reported that a second wave of assistance has begun, concentrating not only on addressing health needs, but also looking at needs across other sectors. The main concern reported in Zintan and areas further west is that the water supply does not cover the needs of the whole population, as a number of wells have been damaged or destroyed. Both the Government of Libya and the Transitional National Council (TNC) have emphasised that there is a critical shortage of medical supplies, including some medicines, vaccines and equipment. This has been highlighted by a number of media sources. WHO highlighted the need to resume the medical supply chain for the whole of Libya and the public health system, after the focus was on the clinical system over the past months. Population Movement IOM and UNHCR estimate that almost 700,000 people have left Libya due to the conflict, as of 27 June. Of these, around 600,000 are non-libyans, the majority of whom have returned to their countries of origin, while around 288,000 are third-country nationals (TCNs) non-libyans staying in countries from which they do not
2 originate. There are approximately 100,000 Libyans who left Libya due to the conflict and have yet to return. (See Annex I for a map showing the breakdown of these figures). Libya UNHCR estimates that there are approximately 240,000 internally displaced people inside Libya. This estimate has not been confirmed and is subject to change due to frequent population movement. The Protection Cluster will monitor the situation. Displacement has continued from areas surrounding Yafran and Qalaa, in the Nafusa Mountains. There have been unsystematic reports of return to Zintan, where the situation has become more stable. Although some return to Nalut was reported late last week, returnees reportedly re-crossed the border into Tunisia when shelling recommenced. Civilians in Ajdabiya reported to an inter-agency mission that approximately 70 per cent of the population had left the city to seek safety, primarily in Benghazi. Many of these families have returned, and only around 20 per cent of the population remains in displacement. Additionally, families from Brega have been displaced to Ajdabiya. Most basic needs are being met in Ajdabiya and public services are functioning on a volunteer basis. The local council reported that around 70 per cent of households have reported lost or damaged property. Many returnee families are being housed with relatives. Systems are being put into place to assist families who lost family members or whose family members were injured. An assessment of IDP sites in opposition-controlled areas began on 21 June to identify vulnerable groups that may not be receiving adequate assistance. So far, ten IDP sites have been assessed. Most IDPs came from Ajdabiya, Brega, RasLanuf, Al-Marj and Misrata, as well as a significant number from Benghazi. There is a significant number of TCNs living among Libyan communities and receiving assistance as vulnerable groups. The assessment team has identified unmet needs relating to water supplies and sanitation, nutritional and medical care, and psychosocial support. Protection issues identified include separation of families, interruption of education, lack of access to legal help for victims of crimes, forced marriage, and children reportedly participating in armed combat. Further clarification is required as to whether all these issues have been caused as a result of the conflict. An IOM assessment mission to Sabha and Al Qatrun (southern Libya, see map on right) began on 27 June, following reports that up to 25,000 migrants became stranded in the area, while travelling south towards Chad, from towns such as Kufra, Misrata and Al-Jufra. So far, more than 2,000 Chadian migrants have been discovered in need of immediate food, water, shelter and medical assistance, having spent many weeks living in the open desert. Around 35 per cent of those found are women, children and elderly. IOM is distributing water, food and hygiene materials in Sabha and Al Qatrun. Tunisia The number of TCNs staying in the three camps near the Ras Ajdir border has continued to decrease as repatriation continues. As of 28 June, there are 1,406 TCNs awaiting repatriation assistance in the three different camps at the Ras Ajdir border. In addition, there are 3,108 TCNs under UNHCR protection who will not return to their country of origin. Egypt The number of new arrivals in the Saloum border area in Egypt has stabilised. UNHCR has registered only 10 additional TCNs in the area over the last week, bringing the total number to 935. As a result, many agencies are reportedly reducing their activities. This excludes UNHCR, who will continue to provide assistance to identified persons of concern in the area.
III. Humanitarian Needs and Response 3 FOOD SECURITY & LIVELIHOODS The Food Security and Livelihoods Cluster remains concerned about disruptions to the public food distribution system throughout Libya, as food stocks are reportedly being depleted faster than they are replenished and there is a lack of fuel (particularly in Government-controlled parts of the country) to transport humanitarian assistance. Although an Emergency Food Security Assessment in opposition-controlled areas highlighted that food insecurity has not reached crisis levels, a wide section of the population is struggling to meet basic food needs, with only limited assets available as coping mechanisms. Limited access remains the main constraint for the provision of food assistance inside Libya. To date, WFP has distributed 6,056 metric tons of food, in partnership with the Libyan Red Crescent, to an estimated total of 543,000 beneficiaries. The Cluster is paying particular attention to those areas affected by heavy fighting, such as Misrata and the Nafusa Mountains. Food assistance is also being provided inside Libya by organisations not affiliated to the Food Security and Livelihoods Cluster. In Remada and Choucha camps, Southern Tunisia, the Cluster is planning begin providing dry food rations, in place of wet feeding, on 30 June. Between 8 March and 29 June, WFP has provided around 2.2 million hot meals to 75,118 beneficiaries (both Libyans and TCNs) staying in camps in Tunisia. In addition, the Cluster plans to begin providing food assistance to around 55,300 targeted beneficiaries (Libyan refugees) staying in host communities in five different regions of Tunisia, including Tataouine, Medenine, Gabes, Kebili and Sfax. The initial food basket will include bread, oil, pasta, wheat flour and semolina, as well as pulses and tomato paste. Around 16,000 loaves of bread are already being distributed per day to Libyans in host communities, and this is supplemented by a food basket provided by Libyan groups. WFP Food for Training activities continue for migrant workers returning to Egypt from Libya in Sohag and Assiut Governorates. To date, 19,400 participants are receiving monthly family food rations (around 96,840 individual beneficiaries). PROTECTION Access to areas in need, and a lack of comprehensive assessments, create severe limitations on the ability of humanitarian actors to provide protection assistance where it is reportedly most needed. Information on protection needs is somewhat unbalanced, with some information available in areas where there is an INGO presence, such as the Nafusa Mountains, and little or no information is available in areas west of Ajdabiya, or in the south. Due to the lack of information on protection risks in Libya, the impact of the conflict in terms of SGBV issues, children involved in armed conflict, and the psychological impact of the conflict on the population remains unknown. Following Cluster concerns about potential TNC plans to move Libyan refugees from Tunisia into oppositioncontrolled areas of Libya, the TNC clarified that they planned only to move those refugees who had family links in opposition-controlled areas of Libya. However, the plan has been abandoned because no refugees were identified with such ties. The Cluster has reiterated to all parties that any movement of Libyan refugees from Tunisia to Libya must be voluntary. The Protection Cluster has identified several TCNs stranded in the Nafusa Mountains area who may be in need of repatriation assistance. Exact numbers are unknown, and more information is being collected about the caseload. For more information about the protection response, please visit: https://sites.google.com/site/protectionclusterlibya/home
4 WATER SANITATION &HYGIENE (WASH) Power shortages have reportedly affected the water supply in the Nafusa Mountains area, Tripoli, Kufra and Al-Bayda. However, the WASH Cluster has been unable to independently verify this information and no additional information is available at present. Humanitarian actors operating in parts the Nafusa Mountains have expressed concern that the water supply does not cover the needs of the whole population. In Zintan and the surrounding areas, there are reports that a number of wells have been damaged or destroyed. This is of particular significance because the coverage of the Great Man-made River does not extend to the Nafusa Mountains. The WASH Cluster is increasingly concerned that no maintenance work has been carried out on the main water supply system in Libya the Great Man-made River, which supplies around 70 per cent of the country s drinking water. Due to a lack of resources, the Great Man-Made River Authority is unable adequately to maintain the system, which places the water supply system at risk. For more information about the WASH response, please visit: http://northafrica.humanitarianresponse.info/sectors/watersanitationandhygiene.aspx EDUCATION Since February, many of Libya s schools have been closed in the east of the country and are likely to remain closed until September due to the school holidays. In addition to the disruption to education, children are in need of psychosocial support and life-skills to help them cope with the conflict. IDPs are still living in a number of schools in opposition-controlled areas of Libya. These will require basic rehabilitation and maintenance once IDPs have been relocated. In addition, at least 100 schools have been looted in Benghazi and surrounding areas. The Education Working Group in Benghazi is developing a plan to support the reopening of schools in early September. In the interim period, Working Group members are working to support recreational activities in Benghazi. In addition, there are 13 schools providing activities for children in Misrata and three in Ajdabiya. Children s clubs in 20 IDP communities in opposition-controlled areas are reaching over 2,000 children, and a further 1,250 children are taking part in school and community-based psychosocial activities. Twenty-two teacher trainers have been trained in parts of opposition-controlled areas for more so that more teachers can be trained in providing psychosocial support, mine risk education, positive discipline, active learning and making schools a supportive and protective learning environment. The trainers will train teachers throughout July and the working group plans to expand the programme, subject to availability of funds. The Child Protection Working Group has reported a need for more child-friendly spaces and psychosocial interventions in Benghazi, Ajdabiya and Misrata. LOGISTICS WFP has chartered a vessel (initially for one month) for regular rotations between Benghazi and Misrata to transport humanitarian personnel and cargo. The vessel can carry 30 passengers and between 300 and 400 MT of cargo. It is due to start operating at the end of this week. Between 1 May and 23 June, 927 passengers from 114 different UN agencies, NGOs and diplomatic corps have used the UNHAS passenger transport services between Cairo, Benghazi, Malta and Djerba. Further details about accessing these services, along with revised schedules are available at http://www.logcluster.org/ops/lby11a/unhas-schedule-and-forms. For general information about the Logistics Cluster (including on warehousing and transport services) please visit:http://www.logcluster.org/ops/lby11a
IV. Coordination 5 Coordination hubs have been established in Benghazi, Cairo and Zarzis. The coordination meeting schedule and cluster contact list for Libya is updated on a weekly basis and available at http://libya.humanitarianresponse.info/. OCHA Libya is producing a daily humanitarian media monitoring service, Monday to Friday. The service provides an overview of the Libya crisis as portrayed in the worldwide media, including: news agencies, newspapers, Arab Satellite TV, websites, social media and press releases by humanitarian organisations. If you wish to subscribe to the media monitoring service, visit: http://bit.ly/jd4hdr OCHA has an incomplete picture of the activities of Libyan diaspora groups providing humanitarian aid to the Nafusa Mountains area. Groups providing humanitarian aid in this area are kindly asked to contact OCHA at: OCHALibya@un.org V. Funding The revised Flash Appeal is 55 per cent funded, with US$225 million received out of the $407 million requested. To ensure 407 million 55% coordination of resources, please advise to the Financial Tracking requested (US$) funded Service (fts@un.org) of all funding decisions and in-kind donations. FTS shows daily updates of funding for this appeal and other humanitarian response to the Libyan crisis. In addition to funding provided to organisations through the Flash Appeal, US$128.3 million has been donated to projects listed outside the appeal. VI. Contact OCHA Libya: Brendan McDonald: Head of Office, a.i. mcdonaldb@un.org +216 2399 4965 OCHA Libya: Rebecca Tustin: Reports Officer tustin@un.org +216 2399 4967 OCHA New York: Julie Belanger: Officer in Charge, Europe, Central Asia and Middle East (ACAEME) Section Coordination Response Division belangerj@un.org OCHA New York: Stephanie Bunker: Spokesperson and Public Information Officer bunker@un.org +1 917 367 5126 OCHA New York: Heidi Kuttab: Humanitarian Affairs Officer, Americas & the Caribbean, Europe, Central Asia and Middle East (ACAEME) Section Coordination Response Division kuttab@un.org +1 917 367 3365 OCHA Geneva: Thierry Delbreuve: Humanitarian Affairs Officer delbreuve@un.org +41 (0) 22 917 1688 OCHA Geneva: Elisabeth Byrs: Spokesperson and Public Information Officer byrs@un.org +41 22 917 2653 For more information, please visit: http://ochaonline.un.org www.reliefweb.int www.irinnews.org To be added or deleted from this sit rep mailing list, please e-mail: ochareporting@un.org or visit: http://ochaonline.un.org
principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors.