It is estimated that 2.5 million people in Libya are currently in need of humanitarian assistance, including 1.5 million migrant workers and 37 9000 refugees and asylum seekers.10 March 2015, Tunis – The World Health Organization (WHO) has delivered critical medicine and medical supplies to Libya, where more than 400 000 people have been displaced due to conflict.

The shipment includes emergency medicines and supplies donated by the Government of Italy, as well as essential medicines and supplies purchased under the Central Emergency Response Fund. These health supplies will provide life-saving treatment for a total of more than 250 000 beneficiaries.

The supplies, which arrived on 6 March to Al-Baida, will enable hospitals in the cities of Benghazi, Al Gobba, Al Baida, Al Marg, Tobruk  and Ajdabia to treat patients requiring care for trauma injuries, as well as provide basic health interventions. A second shipment is expected to arrive to Tripoli by sea in the coming weeks.

As a result of the conflict, health facilities in Libya are reporting critical shortages in health staff and limited medicines. There is an increased strain on emergency nedical services and hospitals in areas hosting large number of internally displaced persons, including Benghazi, Tripoli and Misrata, are overwhelmed.

In some areas such as Benghazi and Zintan, hospitals have shut down due to damages or as a result of the insecurity, placing an even greater burden on functional health facilities.

Bengahzi and Tripoli, Libya’s largest cities have witnessed some of the country’s worst violence since May 2014. In July 2014, the main medical warehouse in Benghazi was destroyed while it was in the process of accumulating quarterly stocks for the entire Eastern region.

It is estimated that 2.5 million people in Libya are currently in need of humanitarian assistance, including 1.5 million migrant workers and 37 9000 refugees and asylum seekers.

Related links

Emergency preparedness and humanitarian action programme

What is the impact of the Central Emergency Response Fund on WHO’s work?