Libyan Arab Jamahiriya • Crisis Situation Report No. 48 7 July 2011

This report is produced by OCHA in collaboration with humanitarian partners. It was prepared by OCHA Libya. It covers the period from 1 to 7 July. The next report will be issued on or around 14 July.

I. HIGHLIGHTS/KEY PR IORITIES • Few civilians remain in the ‘front line’ areas where most of the fighting is taking place • Shortage of medicines and departure of medical personnel continue to affect the health system • Water supply is at risk due to fuel shortages, limited power, lack of maintenance and spare parts • Lack of liquidity at both the macro and household levels remains a concern – particularly for food purchase

II. Situation Overview

Heavy fighting has been reported in Al-Qawalish, which is a village 100km south of Tripoli and 50km southwest of Gharyan (the easternmost city of the Nafusa Mountains). In addition, the heaviest fighting in recent weeks has been reported in the area surrounding Misrata, with the city reportedly hit by shells and rockets. Few, if any, civilians remain in the ‘front line’ areas where most of the fighting is taking place. Therefore, as yet, no unmet humanitarian needs have been reported as a direct result of fighting this week.

Clusters are paying particular attention to providing assistance in areas that have been affected by the heaviest fighting, such as Misrata and the Nafusa Mountains region. Misrata remains inaccessible by road; however, assistance is reaching regularly the town via the sea. WFP has chartered a vessel to transport humanitarian personnel and cargo between Benghazi and Misrata.

Although the security situation in the Nafusa Mountains remains volatile, humanitarian goods and personnel are able to enter the region by land from the Dhibat/Wazin border crossing with Tunisia. At present, humanitarian access is not possible in areas east of Yafran due to continued insecurity. Access in the coastal areas in the north-eastern opposition-controlled parts of Libya remains open. However, there are security constraints in accessing areas south and west of Ajdabiya.

The Health Cluster continued to highlight urgent health needs, due to a lack of medical supplies, in line with statements from both the Government of Libya Health Minister and the Transitional National Council (TNC) Health Minister. In addition, the health system is hampered by a lack of capacity in some areas of care. Although doctors (including specialists, junior doctors and medical students) are available, there are insufficient nurses, midwives and other hospital staff. The health system was very dependent on migrant workers, who have now left the country. Due to the security situation, there has not yet been a comprehensive coordinated needs assessment of the health system. The vast majority of information on the

www.unocha.org The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors. Celebrating 20 years of coordinated humanitarian action 2 system has been obtained from key informant interviews, supported by limited field observations and analysis of available information.

Missions

IOM Mission to Sabha and Gatroun (Southern Libya) IOM found 2,000 Chadian migrants stranded in Sabha and Gatroun. IOM plans to evacuate all of these migrants. The first two flights departed for Ndjamena on 6 and 7 July. So far around 260 Chadians have been evacuated.

The IOM team has used the opportunity of this mission to identify humanitarian needs in the area. Initial findings indicate that there are no major unmet humanitarian needs – the markets are open and food and medical supplies are readily available (although stocks of vaccines are running low). However, fuel shortages are having a trickle-down effect on daily life (e.g. access to health, education and transport) and power shortages have been reported. Additionally, the majority of foreign workers left due to the conflict, which is impacting on the delivery of many social services.

Inter-agency mission to the Nafusa Mountains

A UN inter-agency mission to the Nafusa Mountains took place on 30 June and 1 July. Representatives from the Food Security, Logistics, Protection and WASH Clusters participated in the mission. The team visited four towns: Wazin, Nalut, Jadu and Zintan.

The mission spent a limited amount of time in each of these towns and the findings summarised below are based on rapid field observations and a limited number of interviews with key informants. Further validation and future assessment missions are required in order to gain a more comprehensive picture of the humanitarian situation.

The security situation in the Nafusa Mountains remains unpredictable, particularly near the border with Tunisia, around Nalut and Wazin, and in areas further east towards Gharyan. However in Zintan and Jadu the situation has stabilised enough for significant numbers of formerly displaced Libyans to return. It is estimated that by Ramadan (early August) around 90 per cent of the populations of Zintan and Jadu will have returned. By contrast, in Wazin, a small border town, there was no water or electricity and the vast majority of the population has left due to ongoing attacks and widespread destruction of property.

In Nalut, there was little visible damage to housing and public buildings, with the hospital and main warehouse facilities intact and functioning. However, the perception of insecurity was high, especially among families. The Local Council estimates that around 50 per cent of the population has left the town and the majority of the remaining population was adult males. Water is available, but in short supply and there had been no power for the past two weeks, although the hospital receives generated power.

Although Jadu has an interrupted flow of electrical power, there were sufficient water supplies, no major additional food needs were reported and there was little visible damage to housing and public buildings. Similarly in Zintan there was little visible damage to buildings, with the hospital and main warehouse facilities

www.unocha.org The mission of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) is to mobilize and coordinate effective and principled humanitarian action in partnership with national and international actors. Celebrating 20 years of coordinated humanitarian action 3 intact and functional. The electricity supply was continuous, water supplies are reportedly sufficient and no major additional food needs were reported.

Population Movement

IOM and UNHCR estimate that around 710,000 people have left Libya, as of 6 July. Of these, around 610,000 are non-Libyans, the majority of whom have returned to their countries of origin, while some are third-country nationals (TCNs) – non-Libyans staying in countries from which they do not originate. There are approximately 100,000 Libyans who left Libya due to the conflict and have yet to return. (The map at the end of this document provides a breakdown of these figures).

Libya UNHCR estimates that there are approximately 218,000 internally displaced people inside Libya, of which around 69,000 are in opposition controlled parts of the country, 49,000 are in the Tripoli area, and around 100,000 are in the Nafusa Mountains area. These estimates have not been confirmed and are subject to change due to frequent population movement.

Tunisia The number of TCNs staying in the three camps at the Ras Ejder border has increased by 6 per cent (247 people) over the last two weeks, despite continued repatriation. There are currently 4,109 TCNs in the camps (as of 6 July). There has been a significant increase in the proportion of ‘persons of concern’ identified by UNHCR in the camps (people who cannot currently be repatriated). Two weeks ago (22 June), around 60 per cent of the camps population could not be repatriated; as of 6 July, over 80 per cent are considered ‘persons of concern’. There are 111 unaccompanied and separated children among the TCNs remaining in camps at the Ras Ejder border. The majority are between 15 and 17 years old.

III. Humanitarian Needs and Response

FOOD SECURITY & LIVELIHOODS

The Food Security Cluster emphasises the importance of ensuring the continued and adequate functioning of Libya’s public food distribution system. If the supply of food to support the public food distribution system is further disrupted, and the operational capacity of the system is significantly reduced, the number of those in need of external food assistance would increase. At present, food is being purchased for the public food distribution system, and commercial activity is taking place. However, the arrival of deliveries is inconsistent and unreliable and food stocks are currently not being sustainably replenished. Although food imports are being reported throughout Libya, the scale and quantity of these imports are not known.

The financial capacity of both the Transitional National Council and the Government of Libya to buy food is limited. Since the start of the conflict, Libya has become a predominantly cash-oriented and cash-dependent economy. Lack of liquidity at both the macro and household levels remains a concern and is further compounded by continued depreciation of the Libyan Dinar.

As of 6 July, WFP has distributed 6,056 metric tons of food, in partnership with the Libyan Red Crescent, to approximately 543,500 beneficiaries throughout Libya. The Cluster is paying particular attention to areas that have been affected by heavy fighting, such as Misrata and the Nafusa Mountains region. Food assistance is also being provided inside Libya by diaspora organisations not affiliated to the Cluster.

In five regions of Tunisia, including Tataouine, Medenine, Gabes, Kebili and Sfax, WFP has begun distributing food to Libyans staying in host communities, in partnership with the Tunisian Red Crescent. So far, 13,320 people have received food assistance in Tataouine and Medenine. The planned total distribution figure is for around 55,300 beneficiaries.

In Egypt, WFP has extended its ‘Food for Training’ activities to include two additional governorates. Currently migrant workers returning to Egypt from Libya are assisted through the Food for Training programme in four governorates: Assuit, BeniSuef, Menia and Sohag. To date, 21,365 participants are receiving monthly family food rations (reaching over 106,800 beneficiaries).

PROTECTION

Over the last week a fuller picture of protection concerns has emerged in the Nafusa Mountains since the humanitarian presence in the area has increased. However, the picture of protection risks in government- controlled parts of Libya remains incomplete, particularly in terms of SGBV issues, children involved in armed conflict and the psychosocial impact of the conflict. Humanitarian access is limited due to insecurity, and therefore consistent monitoring of the protection situation is currently not possible.

In opposition-controlled parts of Libya, a Participatory Assessment of IDPs is ongoing. To date, ten IDP settlements have been visited by assessment teams. Preliminary findings indicate, in particular, that there are limited education and recreational activities for children, and limited income generating opportunities and job prospects for adults. There is a need for psychosocial support for all groups (men, women and children). In some settlements, IDPs have voiced concern over access to basic needs (water, sanitation and food).

Mine Action The Joint Mine Action Coordination Team (JMACT) was set up to provide a coordinated mine action response to the threat from explosive remnants of war (ERW) in Libya. In Misrata, the group has conducted a survey of the Misrata “street museums”, which contain large amounts of unexploded ordnance, threatening the safety of civilians in the town. Checkpoints have become unofficial drop-off points for ERWs – therefore JMACT has provided sandbags to construct semi-bunkers to provide protection to the civilian population.

In Tobruk, a Battle Area Clearance team is clearing the outer perimeter of the destroyed ammunition storage area, reducing the threat from ERWs. Around 48,400m2 was cleared last week and 322 ERW items were transported to a safe location for destruction.

In Ajdabiya, visual searches for ERWs were conducted at two military bases, and a destroyed ammunition storage area is currently being searched for ERWs. These sites pose serious risks to the community as they contain significant ERW contamination.

WATER SANITATION &HYGIENE (WASH)

The WASH Cluster remains concerned about the limited capacity of the Great Man-made River Authority – the main water supply provider in Libya – to continue to supply and distribute water, which is constrained by the limited power supply and fuel availability throughout Libya. This week, power shortages were reported in areas around Benghazi, which caused water shortages in Al-Bayda.

The capacity of the WASH Cluster to respond to the issues with the water supply system is limited, due to the large scale of the problems, including power and fuel shortages, extended damage to the power infrastructure, demand for spare parts and lack of maintenance.

LOGISTICS

As requested by INGOs operating in Misrata, on 1 July the WFP-chartered vessel began making regular rotations between Benghazi and Misrata to transport humanitarian personnel and cargo. So far, 39 passengers and over 200m³ of cargo have been transported on this service. The goods transported to Misrata include essential vehicles (ambulances, water trucks, sewage trucks) and medical supplies to contribute to health, sanitation and hygiene activities in the area.

The inter-agency mission to the Nafusa Mountains found that there is adequate warehousing capacity in the three distribution hubs of Nalut, Zintan and Jadu. However, there is a need for additional equipment and capacity building of staff to raise storage and record-keeping to the required standards. Representatives from Nalut, Zintan, Jadu and Yafran met with the logistics cluster in Tataouine (southern Tunisia) and agreed on a redistribution of areas served by each distribution hub. The representatives from Yafran agreed to open a fourth hub to serve areas in the northeast of the region.

UNHAS continues to offer air passenger transport services between Cairo, Benghazi, Malta and Djerba. Further details about accessing these services, along with the updated schedule are available at http://www.logcluster.org/ops/lby11a/unhas-schedule-and-forms . For general information about the Logistics Cluster (including on warehousing and transport services) please visit: http://www.logcluster.org/ops/lby11a

Coordination hubs have been established in Benghazi, Cairo and Zarzis. The coordination meeting schedule and cluster contact list for Libya is updated on a weekly basis and available at http://libya.humanitarianresponse.info/.

OCHA Libya is producing a daily humanitarian media monitoring service, Monday to Friday. The service provides an overview of the Libya crisis as portrayed in the worldwide media, including: news agencies, newspapers, Arab Satellite TV, websites, social media and press releases by humanitarian organisations. If you wish to subscribe to the media monitoring service, visit: http://bit.ly/jD4HDr

OCHA has an incomplete picture of the activities of Libyan diaspora groups providing humanitarian aid to the Nafusa Mountains area. Groups providing humanitarian aid in this area are kindly asked to contact OCHA at: [email protected]

V. Funding

As of 7 July, the revised Flash Appeal is 60 Funding Received and Requested, by Cluster per cent funded, with $244 million received out of the $407 million requested. 100 In addition, $136.5 million has been donated to projects listed outside the 80 Unmet appeal. This brings the total recorded 60 humanitarian funding for the Libya crisis to requirements 40 $380.5 million . US$ Millions Funding Received The chart (right) provides a breakdown of 20 funding received and unmet requirements 0 by cluster (excluding multi-cluster, which is 67 per cent funded).

To ensure coordination of resources, please advise the Financial Tracking Service ([email protected] ) of all funding decisions and in-kind donations. The Financial Tracking Service shows daily updates of funding for this appeal and other humanitarian response to the Libyan crisis.

VI. Contact

OCHA Libya: OCHA New York: Brendan McDonald: Head of Office, a.i. Heidi Kuttab: Humanitarian Affairs Officer, Americas & the [email protected] • +216 2399 4965 Caribbean, Europe, Central Asia and Middle East (ACAEME) Section Coordination Response Division OCHA Libya: [email protected] •+1 917 367 3365 Rebecca Tustin: Reports Officer [email protected] •+216 2399 4967 OCHA Geneva: Thierry Delbreuve: Humanitarian Affairs Officer OCHA New York: [email protected] •+41 (0) 22 917 1688 Julie Belanger: Officer in Charge, Europe, Central Asia and Middle East (ACAEME) Section Coordination Response OCHA Geneva: Division Elisabeth Byrs: Spokesperson and Public Information Officer [email protected] [email protected] •+41 22 917 2653

OCHA New York: Stephanie Bunker: Spokesperson and Public Information Officer [email protected] • +1 917 367 5126

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