IOM #Libya Updated Situation Report (7 September, 2014)

IOM Libya Vol. 6/2014

Updated Situation Report

LIBYA

September 07th, 2014

Context Analysis

NEWSLETTER

January 2014

Tripoli witnessed six consecutive weeks of violence since 13th July, when an alliance of armed groups primarily from the city of Misrata, launched “Operation Dawn� against the Zintan, allied with fighters from the Warshafana region west of Tripoli. The fighting was particularly intense around Tripoli International Airport but affected other large areas of Tripoli.

On 24th August, Operation Dawn fighters seized control of the airport and other areas of Tripoli from Zintan-affiliated armed groups, which withdrew from the city. Fighting is still continuing in the Warshafana controlled areas.

After more than one week of heavy fighting, Misrata-based militias had consolidated their hold on Tripoli and the armed clashes had expanded to the outskirts of the capital.

While Tripoli seems to be experiencing relative calm situation given the recent weeks of suffering and disruption, heavy fighting broke out along the coastal road to Zawia during this week.

Furthermore, militias also attacked a Tripoli refugee camp in Yarmouk, housing people from Tawargha, a town captured by Misrata militias during the 2011 uprising against Muammar Gaddafi to the east of Misrata. All the families accommodated there had to flee and are now scattered all over Tripoli, with little or almost no chance to find new shelters in around Tripoli and surrounding districts Furthermore, local communities have become increasingly hostile against the Tawargha IDPs, being fearful that once they find temporary shelter they might never leave again. Journalists have also increasingly become a target, with correspondents encouraged to report "good news" and several TV stations ransacked.

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Fuel distribution difficulties have gravely affected the delivery of many services. Banking facilities are still limited and common criminality has risen markedly. This also has a significant impact on the distribution of food and non-food items done by International Organisations.

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The conflicts in Tripoli and Benghazi have led to a deterioration of human rights and the humanitarian situation. In Tripoli, there have been power-cuts of up to 18 hours at a time, and shortages of water, diesel, cooking gas, and other essential items such as milk.

The most urgent needs of migrant communities identified are water, cooking fuel and oil, baby formula, diapers, mattresses and blankets, as well as essential medicines, hygiene items and basic food supplies.

The steadily increasing numbers of IDPs, hosted by their families, friends and local communities, lack of cash and almost skyrocketing prices of food and non-food items will likely increase their vulnerabilities, At the beginning of the week, unknown militia units are purported to have captured most of the government ministries in the capital. Initial reports have indicated that staff from the ministries was unable to enter the buildings since the armed militia refused them entry. It is still not known at this time what militia units were involved in these actions.

On September 3rd, the conflict between units of the Al-Zawia militia and Warshafana forces continued along the coastal road and it was reported to be intensifying in the towns, cutting off people from reaching western areas of Libya, or the Libyan/Tunisian border. On the same day, unknown members of various militia units have been reported to have broken into numerous Red Crescent supply deposits/warehouses and stealing first aid and medical items. In one case it was later reported that items were taken from a warehouse have been returned the next day for unknown reasons.

Also on 3rd September, local Tunisian security sources have reported that up to 1,000 people from Libya have crossed through the southern Wazen-Dehiba border crossing point in the last three days, because of the closure of the coastal Ras Jedir route to Tripoli. Also on the following days it was reported, that roads from Tripoli (including the main coastal road next to bridge 27), heading west towards the border with Tunisia were still blocked by the Libya Shield.

On 4th September 2014, an UN/OHCHR report detailed serious human rights abuses happened in particular in Tripoli and Benghazi. Citing indiscriminate violence by armed fighters in Libya and grave abuses by all sides in the conflict, the report warns that serious human rights violations have and are taking place, with dire consequences for civilians and civilian infrastructure. Detailing accounts of civilian casualties, including women, children and foreign nationals, the report also states that that fighters appear to disregard the likely impact of their action on civilians and have inadequate training and discipline. Further, the use of badly maintained and faulty weapons and ammunition increases inaccuracy, causing an increasing number of civilian casualties.

On 06th September, the Tunisia’s Interior Ministry has announced the arrest of 12 men accused of planning attacks to disrupt upcoming elections in Tunisia. Journalists were told on Friday that the arrests came after the seizure of a four-wheel drive vehicle near the border with Libya filled with rockets, assault-rifle ammunition and explosives. The vehicle was allegedly heading from the Ben Guerdane border town to Sidi Bouzid, where the suspects were finally arrested.

Internally Displaced

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Nearly 150,000 Tripoli residents made homeless by two months of ever-intensifying conflict – almost 31,000 families – have fled the city, according to the local authorities. The situation in most of the areas

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No new updates on IDPs have been received from our staff or partners in the field for the current period.

However, IOM Libya is monitoring the growing insecurity of some 200,000 overseas migrants living and working in the major cities of Tripoli, Misrata and Benghazi. They include some 7,000 individuals IOM categorizes as “vulnerable migrants” in potential need of evacuation assistance.

of Tripoli is perceived of getting better - almost back to normal - despite the reported intensifying and continuing clashes and shelling in the vicinities of bridge 27 and bridge 17 in the West of Tripoli. Some families have returned back to their homes, often to houses that have been seriously been damaged by artillery fire. However, there are also an increasing number of reports concerning looting residential homes, as well as a general raise of crime affecting civilian population.

IOM continues to receive phone calls and information shared by other international organisations related to individual migrants or migrant groups from Sub-Saharan countries, who got stuck in the embattled districts of Tripoli, Benghazi and other cities in Libya, unable to move to safer areas. IOM has been able to sign an agreement with the Libyan Red Crescent (LRC) to organize in-country transportation for those who cannot leave their home due to fighting, in order to bring them to a safe place and possibly to organize their return to their home countries.

Migrants in Detention According to informal sources, the number of migrants still kept in migrant detention centres is estimated to remain at approximately 2.200 – 2.500 persons; some of them women and children. Some of the centres have either been closed or have reduced the numbers of migrants hosted due to shortages of gas, water and food – adding these migrants to the ever increasing number of migrants, trying to possibly get on a boat to cross the Mediterranean Sea and reach Italy.

As reported last week, IOM evacuated a group of 9 Ethiopian women, and 3 from Ivory Coast out of Tripoli to Tunisia. With the support of the IOM offices in Cairo and Tunisia, IOM Libya provided them with NFI items through members of the psycho-social network, while waiting for evacuation. The psychosocial network is a group of NGOs, which IOM was able to set up about one year ago and succeeded to revive – and to maintain – during even these extremely difficult times.

Since their arrival in Tunisia the women received medical support and psychosocial assistance to ensure they were fit to travel. The 3 Ivorian citizens left September 2, and the Ethiopians on Sep 8, 2014) On Sunday August 31st the IOM psychosocial team in Tripoli visited some of the migrants that were rescued from the Mediterranean Sea, when their rubber boat deflated near the coast of Tripoli, while trying to reach Italy. The total number of the rescued migrants reached 71, including seven women.

These were Somalis, travelling with 120 other migrants, assumed to have drowned before rescue teams were able to reach them.

Medical screening was provided including blood tests and the distribution of some medicine. Six of them were referred to hospitals for further treatment. They were also provided with water, food and clothes, including 40 NFI kits from the IOM warehouse in Tripoli. Almost all of them were also in need of psychosocial support.

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IOM is aware of many more migrants still living in areas of Tripoli and Benghazi, where armed clashes are still ongoing. IOM Tripoli staff is in constant contact with some of them, while trying to organize their safe evacuation out of the fighting areas and a fast return to their home countries.

IOM Response at the Libyan-Tunisian Border Since the armed clashes in Tripoli and Benghazi have intensified and the numbers of migrants trying to reach Tunisia have surged for a couple of weeks, the cross-border traffic at the border crossing points between Libya and Tunisia have reached normal volumes again. However, due to the problems people have with using the coastal road between Tripoli and Ras Jedir because of the ongoing fighting in the western area of Tripoli, an increasing number of travellers have used the second border crossing point with Tunisia, at Wazen-Dehiba.

Since the crisis in Libya has started in mid-July, IOM has supported the entry and departure of 127 migrants through Tunisia, from the following countries.

IOM is currently also awaiting to provide travel assistance to a group of 3 stranded migrants from Sri Lanka, who will receive support upon their arrival at the Tunisian border, until they will board their plane back to their home country from Tunis International Airport. Preparations are also on the way to arrange the safe passage of approx. 30 Yemeni labour migrants for leaving the areas in and around Tripoli and Al-Ajelat, and to organize their return back to Yemen as soon as all needed formalities are completed.

UN Agencies Response IOM has kicked of its preparations for carrying out an intensive 6-day training course for around 20 social workers from the LRC and local associations already engaged in the assistance to IDPs and migrants. The current plan is to organize the training sessions in Zarzis during the week of 15th – 20th September, covered by funds received from the UN Civilian Capacities (CivCap) initiative.

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Tunis, September 07th, 2014