Libya

Situation Report
Access

Access

In line with the HCT Access Strategy, the Humanitarian Access Working Group (HAWG) was re-established to reinvigorate the humanitarian community’s collective efforts in improving humanitarian access in Libya. The HAWG will serve as a strategic advisory body to the HCT. The scope of work involves strengthening five main areas that are pertinent to access; coordination/information sharing, policy, advocacy, operational presence and analysis, including analyses of access challenges through a participatory approach.

Access constraints continued to decline with October seeing the lowest number of access challenges reported by partners since the launch of the Access Monitoring and Reporting Framework (AMRF) in March 2020. Partners reported a total of 356 access constraints during the month, which is a 36 per cent decrease compared to last month. Mantikas in the West Region were affected by a total of 157 of the reported constraints (44 per cent). Challenges affecting the East and South made up 34 per cent and 22 per cent of reported constraints respectively.

Bureaucratic restrictions impeding movement of humanitarian personnel into Libya continued to represent the highest proportion of reported constraints (54 per cent) but dropped by 32 per cent compared to September. On 6 October, the Humanitarian Coordinator in Libya met with the Minister of Interior to discuss a variety of issues affecting humanitarian operations.

The HC discussed the issuance of visas for international staff working in Libya, where significant progress has been made although 34 per cent of visa submission for international NGO staff remain pending. Despite the relative progress, there is still a need for a long-term solution to the visa issues. The short validity of visas, which also impacts UN humanitarian staff makes it challenging to maintain consistent presence in the country. On import of humanitarian supplies, where some progress has been made on obtaining timely clearance at points of entry, a sustainable solution, particularly for health items is urgently required. Health items continue to be detained at sea and airports across the country. Long delays may require some items to be disposed of having already passed their expiry period. An additional topic was exploring ways to facilitate and expedite the resumption of voluntary repatriation flights of migrants, which were suspended after re-starting in August due to COVID-19 flight disruptions, departure processes for resettling refugees in third countries.

Restrictions of movement within Libya represent 21 per cent of the reported constraints. COVID-19 movement measures and stringent internal security requirements continue to limit humanitarians’ ability to deliver assistance. On a positive note, the first domestic flight between Tripoli and Benghazi in 17 months took place on 23 October, the same day the ceasefire agreement was signed. An end to fighting, along with stipulations in the agreement that allow for open movement along the three main supply roads in the country will not only benefit affected populations, but also allow humanitarians to function more effectively.

A total of six incidents of interference in the implementation of humanitarian activities were reported during the month. These involved migrants and refugees in detention centers where some partners have reported challenges in accessing all affected detained migrants and refugees, as well as disembarkation points in Tripoli where insufficient time has been allowed to fully assess and address different needs of those being disembarked after being intercepted at sea. In one incident, a member of a humanitarian organization was arbitrarily detained by authorities during a distribution in a detention centre and was only released after some of the non-food items being distributed were handed over. As a result, the distribution was suspended.

As humanitarian access continues to improve, humanitarian organizations have reached more than 309,000 people with humanitarian assistance up until the end of September. This includes support to 81,000 internally displaced people, 150,000 vulnerable, conflict-affected Libyans and recent returnees and 79,000 migrants and refugees. Among those assisted, nearly 119,000 people received unconditional food assistance, 107,000 people were supported with shelter assistance and 48,000 people benefited from access to water, sanitation and hygiene items or services. Health partners continued to increase access to health services, providing more than 152,000 medical procedures and provided 2,200 health services providers with capacity building. More than 64,000 people received specialized protection services or awareness raising activities, including gender-based violence and child protection services and psychosocial support. Mine Action partners have cleared nearly 3,000 explosive hazards, including through explosive ordnance disposal, spot tasks and battle area clearance, which will not only protect lives, but facilitate returns.

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