Direct Assistance

According to the 2021 Humanitarian Needs Overview for Libya there are 1.3 million people in need, over a third of which are migrants, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and returnees. The HNO confirms that migrants in general have more severe needs, compared to other groups of concern, and represent nearly a third of all people in the extreme need categories. IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) has identified a critical need for non-food items (NFIs) to respond to the increased needs of vulnerable groups. In 2021, NFIs continue to be the second highest priority need for migrants and returnee informants and the fourth highest need for internally displaced people (IDPs). The number of Libyan returnees has increased significantly since the ceasefire agreement in October 2020, with persons returning to damaged houses, diminished infrastructure and having limited access to basic services. 

Since January 2021, there has also been a marked increase in migrants rescued at sea and disembarked in Libyan ports and a sharp increase of migrants placed in detention. There have been increased incidents of migrant eviction, xenophobic attack and raid reported in several locations, which have affected migrant mobility and ability to access essential goods and services. Migrants’ livelihoods have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, while displaced households and returnees also continued to face hardship. DTM has identified cost as the common obstacle to accessing NFIs for people in need of assistance in 97 municipalities across Libya. 

The needs for NFIs in Libya have increased overall since the advent of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, with more persons affected due to ongoing movement restrictions. NFIs include bedding, household kits, such as kitchen utensils and seasonal appropriate clothing kits, to assist vulnerable persons to live with dignity. The need for NFIs remains underfunded in Libya and IOM as one of the major contributors in the Shelter/NFI sector faces a shortage of NFI supplies to be able to respond to the critical needs of vulnerable populations in 2021-2022. 

Objectives

DA provides lifesaving core relief items to affected populations with a particular focus on the most vulnerable individuals and families, in the aftermath of disasters and displacements, to restore their well-being, dignity and improve their living conditions impacted by crisis. DA also addresses provision of snacks for migrants at disembarkation points after interception/rescue at sea. IOM collaborates with authorities at national, regional and local levels, as well as with the wider humanitarian community in the provision of emergency assistance. It is a life sustaining activity with an immediate impact. IOM is part of the Inter-agency Rapid Response Mechanism (IOM, UNICEF, UNFPA and WFP) which was established with the aim to provide a comprehensive support package of core relief items to newly displaced communities within the first 72 hours.

Areas of Intervention 

Crisis Affected Population

• Intercepted/rescued migrants at disembarkation points
• Migrants in detention centres
• Conflict affected IDPs
• Flood affected IDPs 
• Host communities 

Returnees (IDPs) Needs are identified through regular and ad-hoc assessments. DTM, requests from municipalities, national authorities and OCHA are used to plan and conduct direct assistance with prior verification and registration process.

Core Relief Items

IOM provides direct assistance in the form of non-food items, emergency food and hygiene kits across Libya, directly and through implementing partners. The assistance is life sustaining and has an immediate impact. DA is a major contributor in the NFI/shelter response in detention centres and urban areas.

Migrants	IDPs (families)
Summer clothing Winter clothing Blankets and mattresses Individual hygiene kits Emergency food rations	Blankets and mattresses Family hygiene kits Kitchen sets Plastic sheets, solar lamps, and jerry cans

Locations

Present at disembarkation points, within detention centres and urban locations, DA supports migrants, IDPs, returnees and host communities across Libya. IOM is also on call to conduct bulk NFI distributions to most vulnerable migrants and IDPs, in the event of urgent need throughout Libya. IOM has been covering 20 of the 22 mantikas with provision of emergency assistance to IDPS and migrants. Some of the locations IOM regularly covers with Direct Assistance include Tripoli, Zwara, Azzawiya, Ubari, Sabha, Murzuk, Misrata, Sirt, Aljufra, Benghazi, Ejdabiaya, Derna, Shahat, Tobruk and Al Kufra.