Sudanese refugees

Amid a surge in arrivals of Sudanese people fleeing the escalating conflict in Darfur and heading toward Libya, the European Union is allocating 500,000 euros in humanitarian funding to the World Health Organization (WHO) to be used to provide primary healthcare to the most vulnerable people.

The European union said in a statement on Wednesday that there were more than 1,200 Sudanese individuals entering Libya daily from Al-Kufra. This emergency intervention, funded by the EU, will last for six months and aims to reach up to 160,000 vulnerable individuals, including displaced people and Libyans alike.

“This number represents a six-fold increase compared to December 2023. It is worth noting that almost half of these arrivals are women and children. These new arrivals join the already existing 40,000 Sudanese people who are scattered throughout Southeast Libya.” It added. 

With EU funds, the WHO will be dispatching medical teams, which will include mental health specialists, as well as providing kits and equipment to reinforce health services in six primary healthcare facilities. 

“Additionally, mobile clinics will be deployed to directly provide medical treatment to the vulnerable Sudanese. The focus of this humanitarian intervention will be the border areas, which have been most affected by the growing number of vulnerable Sudanese fleeing the conflict.” The statement said.