United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs - OCHA Humanitarian Overview- Nafusa Mountains 1 June 2011 The Nafusa (Western) Mountains In mid-February 2011, anti-Government The widespread insecurity and lack of food Around 63,000 Libyan refugees stay in the region is made up of the districts of Nalut protests took place in Zintan, as similar and medical supplies has led to population governorates of Tatouine, Medenine, Gabes and the Jabal al Gharbi in the west of Libya. protests were taking place across Libya. displacement into neighbouring Tunisia. On and Douz/Kibili. Three camps have also been The mountains run in an arc starting at Reports indicate numerous instances of 6 April, the first significant wave of Libyans established in Dhibat, Remada, and Tatouine. Wazin, on the border with Tunisia, and indiscriminate shelling in civilian areas, crossed into Tunisia at the Wazin/Dhibat On 31 May, around 1,800 people were staying curving upward to the northeast ending in population displacement, road blocks (Dehiba) border. at the three camps. Humanitarian assistance preventing the delivery of essential is being provided both at the camp and Garyan, 94 kilometres south of Tripoli. The On 21 April, after opposition forces took supplies and damage to infrastructure community level, although the longer this principle economic activity of the region is control of the border crossing, movements such as water tanks. crisis continues the greater host community agriculture, including the cultivation of olives, from the Nafusa Mountains into Tunisia resources and hospitality will be stretched. figs, apricots, grain and herding of goats and Since early March, continued hostilities increased. UNHCR reports that over 59,000 sheep. The majority of the 350,000 – 500,000 severely limit access by humanitarian Libyans have crossed into Tunisia at the The most urgent priority at present is for a population is of Berber Amazigh origin. The actors into the Nafusa Mountains. Lack of border and over 7,000 through unofficial humanitarian pause in hostilities in the Nafusa Berbers are the largest ethnic minority in access hinders the ability of humanitarians crossing routes. Most arrive in Tunisia by car Mountains area to conduct needs assessments Libya and are indigenous to North Africa, to understand and respond to needs. and move directly in with host families or to and secure the delivery of food, medical west of the Nile Valley. rental apartments or hotels. supplies and allow the evacuation of the Map of Nafusa Mountains OCHA Cartography OCHA Libya Office Humanitarian Overview - Nafusa Mountains 1 June 2011 wounded and any third-country nationals Fighting has interrupted the ability of 3 May Yafran residents report shortages of who remain in the area. agencies to assess the level of food stocks food, drinking water and medical supplies. and the effectiveness of distribution 7 May Fighting in Zintan leads to nine dead Access and Protection networks. In some areas food stocks may only and 50 injured. Supply routes to the east of the Nafusa last weeks. Up to 105,000 people currently Mountains have been blocked or cut off need food assistance. The World Food 8 May WFP and the Libyan Red Crescent since early March, limiting access and Programme (WFP) delivered a shipment jointly mobilize 150 metric tons of wheat delivery of food and other essential supplies. of flour, oil and High Energy Biscuits to the flour for distribution in Zintan. Aid groups formed by Libyan diaspora and Nafusa Mountains on 31 May. Islamic Relief 9 May Increased shelling of Yafran/Al Qalaa. the Libyan Red Crescent have managed to is planning a distribution of 60 metric deliver supplies into the area, while some tons of wheat flour and 500 boxes of High 11 May Fighting at Al Riyayena (east of international medical non-governmental Photo: Al Harabah Mountain in the Nafusa Range Energy Biscuits to the area. A Tunisian NGO, Zintan) results in five dead and 25 injured. organizations have been providing medical Needs Ataween, has pre-positioned wheat flour and 12 - 17 May Intermittent fighting in Yafran support since March. has also distributed High Energy Biscuits. intensifies. Access constraints to potable water, medical Libyan diaspora groups have reportedly been Heavy fighting in Az Zintan, located in 24 May Wazin/Dhibat border crossing supplies and food are widely reported. sending in food, fuel and medical supplies the eastern part of the mountain range comes under attack by Government forces. Water supplies have been disrupted in Yafran through the Wazin/Dhibat border as far as has resulted in unconfirmed numbers One fatality reported. The crossing remains following the destruction of a water tank and Zintan. of casualties, including civilians. A large under opposition control. proportion of people from Zintan are pumping equipment at Safet, to the east of Yafran and Al Qalaa have reportedly been 25 May Heavy shelling reported in Zintan. reportedly internally displaced. As many the city. This is further affected by a lack of unable to receive deliveries of food or ‘Grad’ multiple launch rockets land near to as 56,000 may require food assistance. The fuel to power other water pumps. Residents medicine for over one month. As many as the town hospital. continued hostilities make verifying all are said to be using untreated well water 10,000 people may be in need of assistance in media and humanitarian reports difficult. for drinking and other uses. In some areas these two villages. 26 May In Zintan, humanitarian partners such as Romiya and Zintan, residents fear The protection of civilians is of particular report that tens of thousands of people are that public water sources might have been Timeline concern to the humanitarian community in need of food and water. contaminated. due to the conflict and the limited ability to 18 February Public demonstrations take 27 May MSF evacuates its team from reach populations with assistance. Regular The main health facilities are functioning place in Zintan. Zintan, following repeated shelling close to services and supply chains have been in Nalut, Kabaw and Jadu, with the support 1 March Fighting along the north coast of the city hospital. disrupted. from Libyan diaspora groups and non- Libya spreads to Nafusa Mountains. governmental organizations, albeit with 31 May A WFP convoy of eight trucks Indiscriminate shelling and the use of ‘Grad’ shortages of intensive care and surgical 21 March Government troops withdraw from delivers food to Nalut, Jadu and Zintan. multiple launch rockets in civilian populated supplies. In Zintan, Médecins Sans Frontières the outskirts of Zintan. areas, and particularly in Nalut and Zintan, (MSF) evacuated all staff on 27 May have been reported by media and human 04 April Fighting spreads to Nalut. following repeated incidents of extensive rights organizations. Reports of rockets that shelling, including within 100 – 200 metres 06 April First large influx of Libyan refugees dispersed pellets have resulted in damage of the hospital. The Yafran hospital is not into Tunisia. and injury near the hospital in Zintan. functioning. Fuel is still available for hospitals. 11 April Remada Camp opens. For more information on the humanitarian response to the Libyan crisis, including OCHA Libya situation reports, OCHA please visit http://libya.humanitarianresponse.info/ For questions or comments, please contact OCHA Libya at: [email protected] .