On Thursday, the Prime Minister of the Libya’s Interim Government, Abdullah Al-Thinni, held a meeting in Benghazi with the Minister of Social Affairs, Dr. Fathia Ali Hamid.
During the meeting, the two discussed the Ministry’s affairs, and possible solutions to address the issues facing the social affairs sector of the country. Al-Thinni also discussed the conditions of displaced citizens from the western region and directed all concerned officials and institutions to meet the needs of those citizens. He also discussed the working mechanisms of the marriage support fund, and the adoption of its internal regulation.
Notably, the spokesperson for Doctors Without Borders (MSF) in Libya, Salwa Abu Chakra, said that the conditions of the displaced, were turning from bad to worse. This is a result of the COVID-19 epidemic, and the escalation of the conflict in Libya. Abu Chakra added that Libya was already not a safe place for migrants and refugees, as they were at high risk of being exposed to violence, extreme exploitation, arbitrary arrests, and illegal detention. Approximately 1,500 people are being held in official detention centres, under the authority of the Illegal Immigration Agency. They are exposed to great risks, in light of the spread of COVID-19, with no preventative measures being undertaken to aid them.