Background
Since early April 2011, over 60,000 refugees have streamed out of the Nafusa Mountains in Libya towards southern Tunisia, citing continued violence and reprisals and inability to obtain basic commodities, primarily settling in the axis of Tataouine, Medinine and Dehibah. Additionally, UNHCR estimates that up to 100,000 people could be internally displaced within the Nafusa Mountains area. The situation remains fluid with hundreds of Libyans crossing the border between Libya and Tunisia daily.

DRC’s current activities in Western Libya
DRC is the one of the few non-medical agencies to enter Nafusa Mountians in Western Libya. It is the only agency currently present with a strong focus on protection (including, returnee monitoring), community services and building capacity of local organizations.

In July 2011, DRC established an office in Zintan. A Memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a local association has been signed and a local DRC focal point has been recruited to be based in the newly established office. A water trucking program to meet the needs of families of Zintan during the month of Ramadan has been launched. Furthermore, a customized distribution of hygiene kits has been planned with the local partner who will work on the identification of vulnerable families (widows, persons with disabilities, families with unaccompanied minors, elderly and IDPs).

There have been several cases of return to the area recently which has increased the need for drinking water, fuel, food and non food items. During the Ramadan alone, DRC is to deliver water to 200 families, or 1,400 individuals.

Population groups
DRC will focus on IDPs/Returnees and conflict affected populations, especially vulnerable persons such as, Third Country Nationals, and children involved in conflict, as well as the situation of single female headed households, elderly, persons with disabilities, vulnerable young men at risk, unaccompanied minors, etc.

Capacity building of local partner and other actors
From the inception of the project capacity building measures will be undertaken so that the local partner can handle many of the individual protection cases and monitoring for protection on its own.

Photo by A. Duclos / UNHCR.