The World Food Programme (WFP) has resumed full-scale humanitarian aid for Sudanese refugees in Libya, restoring operations that were partially suspended in recent months due to a major decline in international funding.
The decision comes at a critical moment, as Libya continues to absorb one of the largest refugee flows from Sudan since the conflict erupted there in 2023, placing severe pressure on local services, host communities, and the humanitarian system.
According to updated WFP figures, more than 400,000 Sudanese refugees have already crossed into Libya, and the number is expected to exceed half a million by the end of the year. Daily arrivals remain high despite persistent insecurity in and around Tripoli, with most refugees fleeing the escalating violence and devastation in Darfur.
Since early 2025, the WFP has delivered more than 500 metric tons of food supplies to tens of thousands of refugees and vulnerable Libyan households across 20 different locations.
These distributions include essential food baskets as well as targeted nutritional supplements for children and women to help curb rising levels of malnutrition. In parallel, the programme continues to provide cash assistance in Benghazi, Sebha, and Zawiya, enabling families with limited income to purchase basic commodities based on their immediate needs.
Severe funding shortages earlier this year forced the suspension of monthly rations for roughly 50,000 refugees. However, new financial commitments from Italy and the United States have allowed the WFP to stabilize its operations and adopt a plan that extends until February 2026.
Despite this progress, the WFP warns that needs remain overwhelming and continue to grow. The agency stresses that Libya cannot sustain the refugee influx without sustained international backing. It calls for expanded funding to prevent further deterioration in living conditions and to ensure consistent access to food, medical care, water, and shelter for all those displaced by the Sudan conflict.
