Over 210,000 Sudanese refugees arrive in Libya since April 2023

December 24, 2024 (TRIPOLI) – Over 210,000 Sudanese refugees have arrived in Libya since the outbreak of conflict in April 2023, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) said on Monday.

The UNHCR said it had registered 57,132 Sudanese refugees at its registration centre in Tripoli. Authorities in the southeastern city of Alkufra reported issuing 125,020 health certificates this year, with approximately 173,000 Sudanese arriving through Alkufra alone.

“Due to the irregular nature of entry, the ad hoc data shared by authorities, and the vast, remote land border with Chad, Egypt, and Sudan, combined with movements towards cities along the coast, it remains challenging to provide an accurate number of Sudanese refugees,” the UNHCR said in a statement.

The UNHCR said that needs were increasing due to continuous Sudanese arrivals, specifically in health, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH), cash, food and shelter.

“Refugees show concern for their health conditions, requiring immediate assistance, including nutritional support,” the UNHCR said. “WASH infrastructure is overstretched, risking the spread of disease.”

The UNHCR called for immediate support for increased access to water and latrines. It also said that local communities needed support throughout the country, as Sudanese refugees were moving towards coastal cities.

“Specifically tailored protection assistance to female-headed households is required to ensure no one is left behind,” the UNHCR said.