Libya's Healthcare in Conflict

Armed Conflict and Healthcare

• Armed conflict significantly impacts healthcare accessibility; hospitals become targets, leaving the wounded without necessary treatment.
• Increased medical attention is essential during wars, highlighting the urgent need for robust healthcare systems in conflict zones.

Current Situation in Libya

• Libya has been in civil war since 2014, with widespread poverty due to a struggling economy and ongoing political instability.
• Classified as a grade 2 emergency country, Libya's healthcare system was already insufficient prior to the pandemic.

Impact of COVID-19

• The COVID-19 pandemic has worsened the existing healthcare challenges in Libya, stressing the already fragile medical infrastructure.

Natural Disasters

• Tropical Storm Daniel, which occurred on September 10, 2023, resulted in Libya's worst flooding in over a century, causing thousands of fatalities and many missing persons.

WHO Response and Initiatives

• The World Health Organization (WHO) is leading the emergency response in Libya by supplying medical equipment and essential supplies.
• WHO collaborates with local health authorities for comprehensive coordination of the emergency health response efforts.

Call for Action

• There is a pressing need to significantly scale up healthcare response efforts in Libya amidst the escalating crisis.
• Dr. Ahmed Zouiten, WHO Representative in Libya, asserts that good health is a universal human right, stressing global responsibility.

Proposal for a Global Plan

• The delegate advocates for global collaboration to develop a well-funded and actionable plan aimed at identifying and mitigating health threats.
• Emphasis on minimizing the impact of disasters through strategic and coordinated international support for affected countries.