North Africa Crisis Update

18 March 2011

Highlights

-  Libya faces a humanitarian crisis following an unprecedented level of upheaval and violence since anti-government protests began on 17 February 2011. Armed clashes continue in the east of the country. The current outlook for the country - with expected effects on its neighbouring states, especially Egypt and Tunisia - is that the humanitarian situation will continue to deteriorate.

-  WFP, and the UN at all levels, are calling for safe humanitarian access to Libya for assessments and so that food and other humanitarian assistance can be provided to address the needs of those people, especially women and children, who may need assistance.

-  WFP has launched a regional operation for a value of US$39.2 million to assist an initial 1,060,000 people in Libya, Tunisia and Egypt, who are estimated as directly affected by the crisis in Libya, under a Regional Emergency Operation for a period of three months. In addition, a Special Operation for US$4 million for inter-agency support to Logistics and Emergency Telecommunications has been approved. Both of these operations are included in the Regional Flash Appeal for the Libyan Crisis, which was launched by the Emergency Relief Coordinator on 7 March.

Situation Update

•  The situation in Libya remains tense, with reports of fighting in and around Benghazi as well as other parts of the country.

•  Information from IOM indicates that a total of 290,000 people have fled the conflict in Libya. 120,000 who have crossed into Egypt since 19 February. The majority are Egyptian nationals, but also significant numbers of third country nationals, with an average of 70% of those arriving since 8 March being non-Egyptians, increasing the need for repatriation efforts. In Tunisia, 155,000 people have crossed this border since 22 February; they are made up of a mixture of nationalities including Tunisians, Egyptians and Bangladeshis. Thousands of people are still expected to try to reach the borders.

•  According to assessments and information from local authorities, there is less than four months’ food supply in Libya and the unrest is interrupting the food supply chain. This could soon have severe humanitarian consequences.

WFP Response

•  On 9 March, WFP provided 17 mt of fortified date bars to the Libyan Red Crescent for immediate distributions to over 1,200 conflict-affected patients at hospitals in Ajdabiyah, Eastern Libya.

•  A total of 7,400 mt of food has been prepositioned to respond to food needs in Libya. Commodities include fortified date bars, wheat flour, oil, lentils and beans.

•  In support of the wider humanitarian effort, WFP has made available to the humanitarian community information regarding Libyan transport, handling and clearing/forwarding companies. This information can be found at: http://www.logcluster.org/ops/northafrica

•  WFP has secured 25,000 square meters of warehousing space in Benghazi for its use and for other humanitarian organizations.

•  For the past week and in coordination with the Tunisian Red Crescent and local NGOs, WFP has been operating the two largest food distribution points in the transit camp, providing hot meals to an average of 15,000 beneficiaries per day, in addition to high energy biscuits and other donated food items.

•  In Tunisia, 4,000 square meters of land has been prepared for the installation of WFP Mobile Storage Units.

•  WFP, FAO, ACTED, CARE International, IOM, Save the Children, UNDP, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNIDO and UNOPS are proceeding with a rapid regional assessment of the Middle East and North Africa Region, and preparing for joint assessments inside Libya as and when the security situation allows.

Resource Update

•  WFP is appealing for a total of US$43.2 million to assist 1,060,000 people directly affected by the Libyan crisis. This includes a three month food assistance regional emergency operation and a Special Operation to provide inter-agency logistics and emergency telecommunications services. Confirmed donor contributions thus far amount to US$14.2 million.

•  WFP has advanced US$1.2 million through three immediate response operations to address the initial needs.

Contacts

Daly Belgasmi
Regional Director,
WFP Regional Bureau for
Middle East, Central Asia
And Eastern Europe (ODC)
Mob: +20109999219 / Abeer Etefa
Senior Regional Public Information Officer
WFP Regional Bureau for
Middle East, Central Asia
And Eastern Europe (ODC)
Mob: +20166634352
1 / WFP Situation Update, North Africa Crisis