The United Nations humanitarian co-ordinator for Libya, says the North African country could run out of life-saving medicines within weeks, potentially affecting hundreds of thousands of people.
“Our estimation is that by the end of March, Libya may run out of life saving medications which will impact about one million people affected. By that we mean medications for cancers and other types of illnesses like dialysis etcetera. If there is no medication and medicine supplies coming in that will be a real issue for Libya,”Said Ali Al-zatari, UN Humanitarian Co-ordinator, Libya
Compounding the many problems are about 435,000 internally displaced people living in schools and other public places and some 250,000 migrants and refugees who had hoped to pass through Libya and find a better life abroad.
“It is a crisis. We see it every day. I mean, if you have reached a point when Libyans who have never felt the need for food are now asking for certain types of food when we are distributing food packages that include the basics which you could find Libyan originated, but elsewhere in the neighbourhood in the region,” Said Ali Al-zatari, UN Humanitarian Co-ordinator, Libya
Since 2014, Libya has had two competing governments, one based in Tripoli and the other in the east, both of which are backed by loose alliances of armed brigades and former rebels.
Instability has taken a heavy toll on healthcare facilities. In Benghazi, for instance, only one or two out of about a dozen hospitals are functioning, said Al-Za’tari.
A few days ago, he was notified that the psychiatric care hospital in Benghazi has no resources. Scores of patients lack proper care.
