Libyan Foreign Minister Abdulhadi Al-Hwaij met with Abdullah Al-Khifaifi, head of the Libyan Relief Authority, at the ministry’s headquarters in Benghazi on Wednesday.
The meeting covered several key topics, primarily focusing on continuing to establish mechanisms for providing aid to Sudanese displaced persons. This effort will be coordinated with international organizations and in collaboration with local partners.
Both parties emphasized the importance of ongoing coordination between the authority and the ministry across all areas.
As the conflict in Sudan intensifies, Libya is on the verge of a humanitarian and health crisis. The International Medical Corps (IMC) has sounded the alarm over the potential catastrophe, with the number of Sudanese refugees seeking asylum in Libya now estimated at around 45,000. Urgent international support is crucial to prevent a disaster.
“The Farm” in Kufra is now home to nearly 15,000 of these refugees, with daily arrivals of 250 to 300 new faces, fleeing conflict and seeking refuge. A recent survey conducted by the IMC revealed the dire conditions these refugees face: about 800 families, each with an average of five members, crowded into makeshift shelters with scant resources.
The lack of basic necessities is alarming. Food is scarce and often only available through purchase from local communities. Sanitation facilities are inadequate, and clean drinking water is a rarity, leading to widespread health issues. Diarrhea outbreaks are common, particularly affecting vulnerable children and infants, likely due to contaminated water supplies.
Moreover, the health challenges are mounting. The Ministry of Health’s Emergency Committee reports a sharp increase in infectious diseases among the refugee population. The figures are stark: over 780 cases of hepatitis, 112 cases of HIV, and 28 cases of tuberculosis have been diagnosed.
Compounding the crisis, the IMC identified four main routes that refugees are using to enter Libya. The most traveled path leads directly from Sudan to Kufra. Others include routes through Chad to Murzuq and Qatrun, and a less frequented path through Egypt to Tobruk.
In a grim revelation, Sudanese media have highlighted satellite imagery evidence of arson being used as a weapon of war in Sudan, resulting in the destruction of hundreds of villages. An official from the Sudanese satellite unit reported that more than 50 villages had been repeatedly targeted, indicating a grim tactic of forced displacement and war crimes.
As the world watches, the IMC and local authorities are calling for a concerted global response to address both the immediate and long-term needs of these refugees. Without swift action, the situation in Libya could spiral into an unprecedented crisis, with severe implications for regional stability and international security.
