HIGHLIGHTS
• The situation in Sirte remains unstable, with reports of increased military operations and shelling of the city threatening to displace more vulnerable families.
• A tragic month for refugees and migrants seeking to reach Europe, with 1,806 dead or missing off the coast of Libya in May.
• WFP and WHO continue to provide life-saving food and medical assistance.
Displacement crisis: Military operations in Sirte
The fight against the Islamic State (IS) in and around Sirte has gained traction over the past weeks. Reports of shelling, suicide attacks and activity by armed groups have compounded fears for civilian safety, with reports of casualties emerging. The UN and partners are monitoring the situation closely, with the conflict likely to lead to further displacement. More than two thirds of Sirte’s 80,000 residents have already fled oppressive IS control. As of 11 May 2016, IOM recorded the displacement of up to 5,560 households to Al Khums, Bani Walid, Tarhouna, Tripoli, and other nearby cities. This number has increased to around 7,000 families by the end of the month. Gauging the needs of those displaced is a priority for the Libya Inter-Sector Coordination Group as it works to deliver assistance to the most vulnerable. UNICEF, UNHCR, IOM and WFP have provided food and non-food assistance to newly displaced in Bani Walid and Tarhouna.