Libya

The Situation

Gripped since 2011 by civil war, Libya’s population is in the midst of a major humanitarian crisis. An estimated 1.3 million people are now in need of humanitarian assistance: more than half of them are hungry.

Libya is ranked 41 out of 182 countries on the 2018 Gender Inequality Index. Gender norms, conflict and violence are hurting women’ economic, social and political rights as well as their access to essential services like healthcare.

WFP's Work

Since 2018, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has increased its field presence in Libya and now assists around 100,000 people every month through emergency food distributions. Additional activities include school meals programs and resilience-building projects that empower women and youth. In addition to partnering with international organizations and working in tandem with the government of Libya, WFP provides assistance throughout the country through nine local partners.

• Food assistance: WFP provides emergency food and cash assistance to hungry and vulnerable groups including crisis-affected internally displaced people, returnees, non-displaced populations, refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants in urban areas.
• School meals: WFP works with Libya’s Ministry of Education to provide daily school meals to children in the south of the country. WFP has also worked with the Ministry of Education and local communities to run nutrition summer camps that educate both children and parents on best health practices.
• Building resilience: Through Food Assistance for Assets (FFA) projects, WFP provides vocational skills training courses that align with the needs of local jobs markets.
• Logistics services: WFP co-leads the Food Security Sector and leads the Logistics Sector and the Emergency Telecommunications Sector in Libya. It also manages the United Nations Humanitarian Air Service, providing safe and reliable air access to Libya for development and humanitarian personnel and light cargo.