Highlights
On 12 January, a ceremony was held to mark the completion of the rehabilitation works at Al-Insherah School in Ain Zara, Tripoli. More than 600 students are enrolled at the school including displaced and returnee children. As part of this project, new washrooms were constructed, and classrooms and the room for the school nurse were expanded. The works also included construction, tiling, plumbing, electrical works and the installation of doors and windows. This rehabilitation is part of UNHCR’s Quick Impact Projects, aimed at improving community resilience and peaceful coexistence between displaced people, returnees, and the host community.
On 10 January, UNHCR donated a 30kva generator to Altahrir Primary Healthcare Centre (PHCC) in Azzawyah. The ceremony was attended by the Mayor of Azzawya and the PHCC’s manager. Altahrir Primary Healthcare Centre is located in a highly populated area of the city with tens of thousands of residents benefiting from its services. The generator will ensure the continuity of services during power outages. On 12 January, UNHCR delivered a 60kva power generator to Edwaw rural hospital in south of Zliten. The generator will be used as a back-up power supply for the newly established dialysis centre. With 15 units divided between three rooms, the dialysis centre will assist 60 out of a total 270 patients registered in Zliten city, reducing the time patients spend while commuting to Zliten centre.
Population Movements
In the first two weeks of 2023, more than 1,000 individuals have been reported as rescued or intercepted by the Libyan authorities. Last week, one operation was carried out by the Libyan Coast Guard and disembarked at Tripoli Commercial Port, with a total of 35 survivors.
UNHCR Response
In response to the flood in Tolmeitha town (80 Km East of Benghazi) and in coordination with the local authorities, on 16 January, UNHCR, through partner LibAid, distributed non-food items (NFIs) including blankets, mattresses, plastic sheets, kitchen sets, solar lamps and hygiene kits to 27 Libyan families who were affected by the flood.
UNHCR, with partners, continues to provide help and services to some of the most vulnerable asylum-seekers and refugees. Last week, partner International Rescue Committee (IRC) distributed NFIs to 148 individuals, including 46 women and 17 children at the Community Day Centre (CDC). IRC also carried out NFI distributions to 216 individuals, including 116 women, in various areas of Tripoli. Partner CESVI provided emergency cash assistance to a total of 38 households (77 individuals) at the CDC.
Through partner IRC, UNHCR provides health services at different public primary healthcare centres in Tripoli. Last week, IRC provided 299 general health and reproductive health consultations, 45 mental health consultations and referred 26 individuals to public hospitals and private clinics. IRC medical team also supported 45 individuals through the 24/7 hotline, ten of whom were referred for secondary medical assessments. IRC carried out visits to Triq Al Sikka, Triq Al-Matar and Ain Zara detention centres and provided more than 110 medical consultations.
At the Serraj Registration Centre, UNHCR identified 48 individuals who managed to escape or who were released from trafficking camps. They were all referred for protection interviews to identify their needs and provide the necessary assistance. Last week, 21 best interest assessments and 82 protection needs assessments were conducted with children and adults to identify their protection concerns, and assess their needs, including referrals to specialized services.
UNHCR outreach team carried out a field visit in Alsabaa in Tripoli, reaching ten Ethiopian nationals including survivors of trafficking, people with serious medical conditions, and women at risk. Referrals were made for specialized services according to the identified needs. Last week, as part of community-based care arrangement programme run by partner CESVI, six individuals were placed in care arrangements and nine individuals were integrated within the community. As of 12 January, there were around 50 active caregivers across Tripoli, with more than 120 vulnerable asylum-seekers and refugees benefitting from the programme. The vetted caregivers help to host unaccompanied children and women at risk, as well as people with specific medical conditions, on a temporary basis until longer-term solutions are identified.
