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UN food aid reaches half a million conflict-affected Libyans

17 June 2011 – The United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) has delivered vital food assistance to more than 500,000 people affected by the ongoing fighting between the Government and rebels in Libya, even as concerns continue to grow about access to food inside the country.

The price of many food commodities has more than doubled in areas heavily affected by fighting, the agency noted in a news release.

Even before the fighting that erupted several months ago between Government forces and rebel groups seeking the ouster of Muammar al-Qadhafi, Libya was a food deficit country heavily reliant on imports. Its public food distribution system is currently under stress as food stocks are being consumed without replenishment.

Since it began to move food supplies into Libya in early March soon after the conflict began, WFP distributed aid to over 270,000 people in eastern Libya, 136,000 people in western Libya (mainly in the Nafusa Mountain area), and an additional 125,000 people in the city of Misrata.

“It has been a priority for WFP to mobilize food for those who are most vulnerable to hunger, especially people living in areas such as Misrata that have been severely affected by the conflict,” said Daly Belgasmi, WFP’s Regional Director for the Middle East, Central Asia and Eastern Europe.

The agency has extended its regional emergency operation for North Africa for three more months until the end of August, at an overall cost of $100 million.

So far the emergency operation, which would cover 1.5 million people affected by the violence in Libya and neighbouring countries, has received only a quarter of the funds it needs, WFP noted.