Djerba, Tunisia, 29 November 2014 – The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Humanitarian Coordinator’s Office concluded a three-day capacity building workshop on Emergency Assessment. Held in Djerba 26-28 November 2014, the workshop brought together 28 Libyan technical experts and volunteers working in relief and emergency operations. The workshop was facilitated by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) for the Middle East and North Africa, UN agencies operating in emergency (UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, WHO) and the International Office for Migration (IOM).

The workshop provided participants with a common basis and understanding of emergency assessment in order to harmonize assessment methodologies among all partners, and the tools to identify the humanitarian needs and provide updated information on the situation of Internally Displaced People (IDP)and affected population in Libya.This workshop will undoubtedly enhance the main local partners’ capacity to undertake assessments, conduct monitoring and data collection.

The workshop focused on key issues such as techniques to engage community collaboration in the assessment process; and identifying common assessment methodologies. Participants shared their experiences during the recent conflict and the dire situation of IDPs, the challenges they face and obstacles encountered in the provision of humanitarian assistance.

The participating UN agencies and international partners agreed to develop an informal working group on Civil Society Emergency Capacity Building. Future activities are planned to strengthen local NGOs and civil society capacities to better equip them for undertaking humanitarian assessments.

For further inquiries, contact: Ms. Iman Shawwa, United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL), shawwa@un.org