World Food Programme Fighting Hunger Worldwide

TRIPOLI -- Like so many of those affected by conflict in Libya, WFP too had many first experiences of its own. For the first time, WFP provided cooked meals in an emergency as well as operated a regular ferry service to move supplies and humanitarian workers into areas otherwise out of reach.

In March last year, food distributions reached those affected by the first rounds of fighting in Benghazi as well as populations fleeing the violence for Libya’s border with Tunisia. Operations at Libya’s borders with Tunisia and Egypt expanded to support the influx of families leaving a life-threatening situation in Libya. WFP started providing hot meals at newly constructed camps providing over 2.6 million meals to Libyan refugees and migrant workers who fled the country. 

In spite of security threats and limited access throughout the conflict, WFP has continued to operate and reach those areas where its assistance proved to be in greatest need. Two WFP-chartered ships delivered urgently needed humanitarian aid to Misrata in April, with the second vessel narrowly escaping sea mines and a shelling attack on the port during its exit.

To access the affected populations in the heavily contested western areas of Libya, WFP established supply routes from Tunisia to facilitate the movement of humanitarian aid to people stranded by the fighting. The first convoy of basic food commodities crossed from Tunisia into Libya by road reaching the conflict-affected populations in Tripoli, Zintan, Yefrin, Nalut, Mezda, Al Reiba and Al Zawiya. The UN food agency continued to be at the forefront of humanitarian response as arenas of conflict shifted throughout the country. Among 350,000 people targeted across Libya in February 2012, WFP is assisting 110,000 people in and around Sirte and Bani Walid – both areas hit hardest during the late stages of the conflict.

While food is now available in most of Libya, some of the most vulnerable families struggle to meet their nutritional needs. Tens of thousands are still living in displacement, many migrant workers still need support, many Libyans have returned to their homes in places that still bear the marks of the conflict and others are still not receiving their salaries.

As Libya steps towards a new future, WFP continues to work on supporting pockets of vulnerability within the country as well as helping national organizations build their capacity to resume their support to the country’s poorest populations.