Highlights
UNICEF signed a tri-lateral Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) with the Libyan National Centre for Diseases Control (NCDC) and WHO. The MoC outlines a programme for cooperation on the implementation of six strategic focus areas to assist the NCDC with on-going health reform, policy and advocacy to ensure provision of immunization and other child health services.
UNICEF provided 1.5 million doses of polio vaccines to NCDC to support the five-day campaign that was completed countrywide in Libya from 16th April to 21st April 2016 and covered 1.3 million children below the age of 6.
On 20th of February, UNICEF agreed with the Municipality of AlZintan to facilitate the release of children under 18 years of age associated with the armed groups and to establish a rehabilitation and reintegration center in the city. The center will provide services to children as well as youth who were involved in the armed conflict in the past.
Situation Overview & Humanitarian Needs
The humanitarian situation in Libya continues to deteriorate as a result of sporadic fighting across the country and the expansion of the so called Islamic State (IS) and causing internal displacement of civilian population. The disruption of health care services, shortages in life- saving medicines, vaccines, and serious protection concerns affecting children are among key concerns affecting children. The lack of resources is another obstacle for the humanitarian response where the Humanitarian Response Plan for Libya had a funding gap of 64 percent till May.
The deteriorating security situation in the city of Sirte as a result of IS expansion has resulted in civilians fleeing Sirte, Abu Grain, Al Hesha and Abu Najeem. According to the reports from local partners and crisis committees, around 1,200 families have recently arrived in the city of Bani Walid, another 550 families in Tarhuna and over 700 families have arrived in Tripoli.
In Benghazi, where some areas have been controlled by the Libyan National Army forces, it has been reported that the number of schools occupied by IDPs has dropped from 61 to 39 schools. In Bani Walid however, the number of schools occupied by IDPs have increased to 12 and the number is expected to continue increasing as a result of displacement.
To the west of Tripoli, there has been a notable increase in sea departures to Europe. Since the beginning of 2016, IOM estimates that over 27,000 migrants have departed from Libya towards Italy. IOM Libya’s Displacement Tracking Matrix estimates the existence of 417,123 IDPs and 234,669 migrants in Libya at the end of the reporting period.
UNHCR has continued registration of refugees and asylum seekers: approximately 30,000 asylum seekers and 10,000 refugees have been registered up to mid-April 2016. According to IOM, in just three days during April almost 6,000 migrants and refugees have sailed from Libya to Italy which could be the start of a new massive wave of migration