The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Libya has announced the distribution of winter relief items across several regions to support vulnerable families during the cold spell in January.
In a post published on its official Facebook page on Tuesday, UNHCR said the assistance targeted children, women and men facing harsh winter conditions. The distributed items included coats, winter clothing, shoes, socks, blankets, mattresses, tarpaulins, kitchen sets and solar-powered lamps.
Commenting on the initiative, the agency noted that while winter conditions vary across Libya, for many displaced and refugee families the season means confronting cold weather without the warmth and stability they once knew. The support forms part of UNHCR’s broader humanitarian response aimed at assisting refugees, asylum seekers and internally displaced persons across the country.
Libya remains both a transit and destination country for migrants and refugees fleeing conflict and instability in sub-Saharan Africa and beyond. Many live in precarious conditions, particularly during winter months when temperatures can drop significantly at night, especially in desert and coastal areas.
In a related development, approximately 122 asylum seekers were evacuated from Libya in December through a humanitarian corridor coordinated by UNHCR. The group arrived at Leonardo da Vinci–Fiumicino Airport in Rome before being transferred to reception centres across Italy.
More than half of the evacuees were under the age of 18. They originated from Sudan, South Sudan and Eritrea, and were relocated to ten reception facilities throughout Italy as part of international protection efforts.
UNHCR continues to call for sustained international support to expand safe pathways and improve living conditions for displaced communities in Libya, emphasising that humanitarian assistance remains essential amid ongoing political and economic challenges.
