The International Medical Corps (IMC) has issued a warning about a potential humanitarian disaster as the influx of Sudanese refugees into Libya continues to increase, with numbers reaching around 45,000. Immediate aid is deemed crucial to averting a crisis.
Through its emergency response team, the organization has identified five locations known as “The Farm” in Kufra, which collectively host nearly 15,000 people, with daily arrivals ranging from 250 to 300 new refugees.
A survey conducted by the organization at one of these sites revealed about 800 families, averaging five members each. Approximately 10% of these individuals are over the age of 50, with around 400 children present.
The survey highlighted severe deficiencies in services, with food availability contingent on purchases from local community members.
Additionally, the lack of proper sanitation facilities and clean drinking water has led to numerous cases of diarrhea, particularly among children and infants, likely linked to water contamination.
According to the Ministry of Health’s Emergency Committee, there has been a significant rise in infectious diseases among the refugees.
Over 780 confirmed cases of hepatitis, 112 cases of HIV, and 28 cases of tuberculosis have been recorded.
The number of refugees fleeing from Sudan to Libya is expected to increase substantially due to the ongoing conflict.
The International Medical Organization has identified four main routes used by Sudanese refugees: the most popular being directly from Sudan to Kufra; via Chad to Murzuq; via Chad to Qatrun; and the least used route via Egypt to Tobruk.
Earlier, Sudanese media reported on satellite images showing that arson has been employed as a weapon of war in Sudan, destroying hundreds of villages.
A Sudanese satellite unit official reported that “more than 50 villages in Sudan have experienced repeated burnings, indicating a strategy of forced displacement and war crimes,” adding that “235 fire incidents have been documented across various cities and villages in Sudan since the onset of the war, with the Darfur region experiencing significant violence.”