Tunis, 20 April 2016 - An injection of US$12 million from the United Nations Central Emergency Response Fund (CERF) has provided much-needed financing for priority projects from the Libya Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP). Under the allocation, $2.5 million has been distributed to address health needs, $2.48 million to food assistance, $2.4 million to life-saving support to refugees and migrants and $1.8 million to protection. Early recovery and Water, Health and Sanitation (WASH) programmes have received $1 million each, with Shelter and Non-Food Items (NFIs) programmes receiving $800,000.

With 2.44 million people in need of humanitarian assistance in Libya, the funding will provide relief for internally displaced persons (IDPs), refugees, migrants, asylum-seekers and vulnerable conflict-affected communities across the country.

“This funding from CERF’s underfunded emergencies allocation comes just in time to restore stocks of essential items that are not available in Libya, in particular ensuring that food assistance and medicines reach those most urgently in need,” said Humanitarian Coordinator Mr. Ali Al-Za’tari. “We are grateful that the CERF exists to come to the rescue of silent and severely underfunded crises, such as that unfolding in Libya.”

Overall funding towards the Libya humanitarian response has just reached $30 million, falling well short of the $165.6 million required. “The HRP has received barely 18 per cent of the funding needed to alleviate suffering and provide for the immediate needs of people in Libya,” said Mr. Al-Za’tari. “Programmes to deliver WASH, education and early recovery all require urgent support from donors and the international community so that all humanitarian needs can be addressed.”

Further information on the approved projects is available at: http://bit.ly/1SQljw2
For information on the Libya Humanitarian Response Plan (HRP): http://bit.ly/1U4Ajf4