European Commission Humanitarian Aid department
Facts & figures (as of 9 November 2011)
The National Transitional Council (NTC) announced the liberation of Libya on 23 October.
Total humanitarian and civil protection funding to date (European Commission + EU Member States): €154,501,252
HUMANITARIAN SITUATION AND NEEDS
Situation in Libya
Facts & figures (as of 9 November 2011)
The National Transitional Council (NTC) announced the liberation of Libya on 23 October.
Total humanitarian and civil protection funding to date (European Commission + EU Member States): €154,501,252
HUMANITARIAN SITUATION AND NEEDS
Situation in Libya
An ECHO humanitarian team remains in Libya to continue to assess and monitor the humanitarian situation. Two main humanitarian concerns persist: the protection of the civilian population and the presence of Unexploded Ordnances (UXO), arms and ammunitions scattered in former areas of fighting.
Assessment missions to Sirte and Bani Walid have been conducted by ECHO humanitarian experts.
The situation in Sirte and Bani Walid remains critical. The main constraints to the return of the populations are the extensive destruction of infrastructure, the contamination by Explosive Remnants of War (ERW), and a general lack of basic services, namely water and electricity, which is linked to the lack of fuel.In addition, fear of antagonism and reprisal exists among the people that fled both cities. It is likely that most of the population who left will remain in their areas of displacements until the situation improves. 15,000 people out of the 45,000 who fled Bani Walid are reported to be still displaced fearing for their lives if they return to Bani Walid.
Medical services are able to cope with the current levels of the population and are covering day-to-day medical needs and some injuries caused by Unexploded ordnances (UXOs).
International humanitarian organisations (ICRC, IMC, MSF) continue to support the health sector and war wounded.
The pre-positioned food, water, emergency health kits and non-food items put in place by the humanitarian community to rapidly respond to the humanitarian needs of those trapped during the fighting have now been mobilsed since access to the remaining conflict areas has become possible.
Libyan aid organisations as well as international NGOs and UN agencies are providing food and other items to the Internally Displaced People (IDP) communities. The present number is unknown, but by the end of September the estimate was already between 100,000 and 150,000.
Both the ICRC and the International NGOs involved in the ECHO funded Humanitarian hub in Misrata have been working during the last weeks on opening a field hub at 7 km to the west of Sirte.
Serious concerns remain regarding vulnerable groups, e.g. Tawarghas, living on public premises or in areas difficult to identify. Minority groups previously supporting the former regime are also facing intimidation and restriction of movement. Serious attacks, harassments and looting of these groups continue to be reported.
The cities of Tiji and Badr in the Nafusa Mountains have suffered major damage following attacks by NTC workers in early October.
Public and civilian facilities were destroyed.
The presence of land-mines, abandoned munitions and unexploded ordnance inside Libya poses a serious threat to civilians. The Commission will therefore boost its support to humanitarian mine actions.
ECHO will continue to closely follow the humanitarian situation in and around Sirte and Bani Walid, as well as in the rest of the country.
Major priorities
Reinforce the coordination of relief actions to enable NGOs to dedicate more resources to humanitarian interventions. The decision of NGOs to open a field humanitarian hub in the western outskirts of Sirte is welcomed. This should reinforce the deployment of international teams to monitor the situation.
Step up the protection of civilians which remains a major concern.
Both Sub-Saharan African and Libyan cases should be given equal protection.
Continue to assess the movement of populations and further needs as they arise, with particular focus on the civilian population in Bani Walid and Sirte. The focus should concentrate on the most vulnerable groups accommodated in public premises or in areas difficult to reach. Increased international presence would encourage return.
Resolve the problem of migrant population stranded in Sidi Bilal. ƒ Continue to monitor the general evolution of the humanitarian situation in the country.
Advocating to all parties for the full respect of the civilian population and International Humanitarian Law.
Increasing support to the agencies involved in Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) activities to prevent unexploded ordnances- related accidents.
