Since war broke out in Libya, over one million people have fled fighting, violence and abuses. They include men, women, children and the elderly, and they are fleeing for their lives.
These victims of war are seeking refuge wherever they can, in the hope of finding safety. As well as Libyans, there are people from Nigeria, Sudan, Somalia, Eritrea, Bangladesh and at least 20 other countries.
Most crossed land borders, while others have risk their lives on the Mediterranean Sea to reach Malta and Italy.
This is the hidden story of the Libyan conflict. The war is having an impact not only on Libyan nationals, but also on the 2.5 million migrants working, living or passing through the country.
Personal stories
Mineo reception centre, Sicily
Photos by Mattia Insolera
Shousha camp, Tunisian-Libyan border
Neglected victims
Following several calls to those states involved in the war in Libya to better receive, assist and protect its victims, Médecins Sans Frontières MSF (Doctors Without Borders) wishes to bring attention to the current situation of the 20,000 people who have fled the war and are now stranded in Shousha camp in Tunisia and in reception centres in Italy.
These neglected victims of the conflict in Libya are now facing the consequences of poor reception conditions and insufficient protection in the countries where they have sought safety.
Our briefing paper – From a rock to a hard place: The neglected victims of the conflict in Libya – documents the terrible consequences of this situation on their health and on their lives, and points to the urgent and immediate need for more effective protection and a stronger humanitarian response.
MSF’s response to the conflict
Since the start of the hostilities in February, MSF has provided emergency medical assistance free of charge to people affected by the conflict in Libya (in Benghazi, Misrata, Zintan and Yefren), as well as to those who have fled to Tunisia (in Shousha camp, Ramada, Dehiba and Tataouine) and to Italy (in Lampedusa and Mineo, Sicily).
Today, MSF is actively trying to gain access to Tripoli region where humanitarian needs remain mostly unanswered.
Shousha camp
In Shousha camp, located on the Tunisian-Libyan border, MSF teams provide primary healthcare and mental healthcare.
Since early March, MSF has been running a mental health programme, as many people have either witnessed or directly experienced violence in the course of their escape from Libya.
In addition, thousands of sub-Saharan African asylum seekers and refugees are survivors of persecution and ill-treatment that took place in Libya prior to the conflict, and suffer from severe mental health problems.
Italian migrant camps
On the Italian island of Lampedusa, MSF conducts medical screening for people upon arrival, and ensures medical follow-up for those in the island’s detention centres.
From February to June 2011, MSF assisted some 15,000 people in Lampedusa after they had fled the conflict in Libya. Almost 1,800 consultations were completed at landing points alone.
MSF also provides mental health support in Mineo reception centre, Sicily, to where some 2,000 asylum seekers of various nationalities have been transferred since March 2011.
In addition, MSF closely monitors the living conditions and access to healthcare of refugees, asylum seekers and migrants in reception and detention centres in mainland Italy.