No time to waste" as Libya humanitarian funding hits just 18% of total required to deliver life-saving aid

26 Apr 2016

No time to waste" as Libya humanitarian funding hits just 18% of total required to deliver life-saving aid

No time to waste" as Libya humanitarian funding hits just 18% of total required to deliver life-saving aid

Tunis, 25 April 2016 - Humanitarian Coordinator and Deputy Special
Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya, Mr. Ali Al-Za'tari,
welcomed a small increase in funding to the Libya Humanitarian Response
Plan (HRP) but warned that the clock is ticking to deliver life-saving
aid to Libya. The total received has now reached US$30 million,
representing just 18.2% of the $165.6 million required.

"Vulnerable people in Libya are looking to the humanitarian community
for help,” said Mr. Al-Za’tari. “Many are at breaking point, facing
shortages of basic goods, unsafe and unsanitary conditions and
deteriorating infrastructure. There is no time to waste to bring relief
to those in need and we are immensely grateful to the European
Commission, Italy, Canada, Switzerland, the United States, Republic of
Korea and Sweden, who have all stepped forward to contribute urgent
assistance to those who simply cannot wait until tomorrow.”

The
HRP funding goes towards easing the plight of internally displaced
persons, refugees, asylum-seekers and migrants caught up in conflict and
insecurity, but the humanitarian response remains dangerously
underfunded.

“A mere 18% of our funding target remains
insufficient to save lives in Libya,” said Mr. Al-Za’tari. “There is a
very real risk that supplies of essential medicines will not last beyond
June. In many areas, waste disposal and sewage services have ceased to
function. Health experts warn that outbreaks of preventable diseases are
set to rise. We cannot allow this to happen. I urge the donor community
to boost its support to Libya before it is too late.”

Click here to view the humanitarian funding update PDF