Responding to the Flooding in Libya

The humanitarian crisis In northeastern Libya persists in the aftermath of the catastrophic floods on September 10, 2023, which affected 250,000 people.1 Assessments conducted by International Medical Corps and our field teams have identified ongoing humanitarian and early-recovery needs.

Despite International Medical Corps’ ongoing efforts to support the primary healthcare system, additional attention is required to ensure that health facilities have stable medical supplies, hygiene supplies and sufficient medical personnel. This support is crucial for managing the increasing number of noncommunicable and chronic diseases. Improving access to essential health services such as physiotherapy is key to enhancing accessibility for people with disabilities in Derna, eliminating the need to travel long distances.

Continued mental health and psychosocial support (MHPSS) services are essential to address the rising signs of post-traumatic stress disorder in the community, alleviate psychological distress among children and youth, and support healthcare providers coping with trauma from the flooding. Disrupted support networks, movement restrictions and unsafe environments also have heightened the risk of gender-based violence against women and girls.

Health

As of May 31, International Medical Corps had deployed 10 Type 1 Emergency Medical Teams (EMTs) in Libya. Three EMTs are stationed at fixed locations, while seven are mobile units covering 25 health facilities across eight municipalities: Albayda, Albayyada, Benghazi, Derna, Misrata, Sousa, Tobruk and Tokra. These facilities include five hospitals, three polyclinics and 17 primary healthcare centers (PHCCs). Our teams provide emergency and primary healthcare services such as reproductive health, child health, general consultations, health education, training and medication. We have conducted 31,435 outpatient consultations (19,161 women, 12,274 men) targeting internally displaced persons in areas affected by flooding.

In May, International Medical Corps health teams also conducted two comprehensive, two-day training sessions on delivering essential laboratory services, attended by 54 healthcare staff (27 women, 27 men) from the Ministry of Health (MoH) in Derna and Tokra. To further build practical skills among healthcare providers, our teams have so far conducted seven health training sessions for 164 healthcare staff (112 women, 52 men) and 120 on-the-job tutorials for 801 providers (750 women, 51 men) at supported health facilities. These sessions enhance MoH staff capacity in emergency first aid, proper dispensing practices, vital signs assessment, electrocardiogram basics and basic laboratory skills.

Our community health workers also conducted 3,555 awareness sessions across all supported locations, engaging 11,128 participants (6,605 women, 4,523 men) from the community. The aim was to enhance awareness and knowledge, focusing on nutrition education, personal hygiene, coping strategies for posttraumatic symptoms, national vaccination protocols and personal hygiene for school students.

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support

International Medical Corps continues to address psychological distress and enhance the well-being of people in Libya through a multifaceted approach: strengthening local capacity and providing remote and in-person mental health consultations.

Partnering with the Citizen Service Center, the national helpline provides essential MHPSS consultations, promoting self-reliance and well-being. The helpline has facilitated 7,270 consultations with 605 people (420 women, 185 men). The MHPSS team and beneficiaries report that this approach overcomes geographical barriers and stigma, enabling free expression of concerns without fear of judgment. Additionally, 729 people (473 women, 256 men) received in-person MHPSS consultations, benefiting from evidence-based techniques such as stress management, problem-solving, cognitive behavioral therapy and interpersonal therapy.

MHPSS capacity building has been the major pillar of our response, through training, supervision and technical support. We have provided basic training in psychological first aid for 24 participants (15 women, nine men) identified from Al Bayada, Derna, Tobruk and Sousa, providing participants with the necessary skills to address individuals' immediate concerns and needs in the aftermath of a disaster and provide onsite support.

To reduce stigma and increase the use of existing MHPSS services, our teams held 24 psychoeducation sessions for 243 people (212 women, 31 men). These sessions promoted well-being, fostered positive coping mechanisms and raised awareness about MHPSS issues in the community.

Water, Sanitation and Hygiene, and Non-food Items (NFIs)

International Medical Corps has delivered 10.96 million liters of clean water to flood-affected communities via 913 trucks, each carrying 12,000 liters, benefiting 3,652 families (23,007 individuals). In Derna, we distributed 12,000 6-liter and 23,800 7-liter bottles of water, reaching 12,300 people. To further ensure access to safe water, we installed four small desalination plants, each with a 6,000-liter capacity, at four health facilities in Derna, serving 3,200 people daily. We have also provided existing desalination plants with spare parts and personal protective equipment, and are preparing to install two additional desalination plants in Derna, serving safe and clean water for an estimated 15,000 people.

Our hygiene promotion team conducted 2,037 sessions on acute watery diarrhea prevention, proper handwashing and safe water storage, reaching 30,347 people (5,431 men, 10,963 boys, 4,784 women, 9,169 girls) at health facilities, schools and communities. We also distributed hygiene kits to 5,255 households affected by the flood in Derna.

Furthermore, International Medical Corps has rehabilitated water and sanitation infrastructure in 11 health facilities in Albayda, Derna, Tobruk and Tokra, improving services for 43,200 people, including women, children, the elderly and people with disabilities.

Gender-Based Violence

International Medical Corps' team has directly delivered GBV prevention and response services to women and girls affected by the floods in Benghazi, Derna, Misrata and Tawergha. This includes outreach, information dissemination, awareness campaigns on the International Day of Women and Girls in Science, International Women's Day and Eid AlFitr. We have also organized psychosocial support activities, such as crochet, accessory making, painting, coloring and cross-stitching. We have engaged 181 participants in focus group discussions and reached 759 women and girls, including beneficiaries for all GBV services, community volunteers and local civil society organization (CSO) partners.

In partnership with a local CSO, International Medical Corps is setting up a safe space for women and girls in Derna where we will provide GBV prevention and response services.

Additionally, we have distributed 752 dignity kits to affected women and girls, including displaced, vulnerable, at-risk, pregnant and lactating individuals in Benghazi, Derna and Tripoli. These kits provide essential hygiene items to enhance well-being and reduce GBV risks. Additionally, we provided training to 28 staff, volunteers and community leaders on women’s and girls’ safe spaces, GBV prevention and response, and case management.