Aid groups in Libya — or the very few left — are struggling to carry out their work today not only because of the current insecurity, but also because most services are in short supply.
Many facilities in Libya are currently shut off. Electricity cuts, fuel shortages and interrupted communication lines are impeding organizations’ ability to move and function. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, for instance, often finds it difficult to reach its local partner, the Libyan Red Crescent Society, which feeds them information on what’s happening on the ground. IFRC is currently on standby in Libya in case there’s a need for intervention.
But that's not all. Random shelling has also forced a number of facilities to close down, such as the Al’Jala’a trauma hospital in Benghazi. This is exacerbated by the pull out of many international organizations early this month, including U.N. agencies, leaving only a handful of organizations on the ground.
About the author
Jenny Lei Ravelo@JennyLeiRavelo
Jenny Lei Ravelo is a Devex Senior Reporter based in Manila. She covers global health, with a particular focus on the World Health Organization, and other development and humanitarian aid trends in Asia Pacific. Prior to Devex, she wrote for ABS-CBN, one of the largest broadcasting networks in the Philippines, and was a copy editor for various international scientific journals. She received her journalism degree from the University of Santo Tomas.
