Context

The humanitarian situation in Libya in 2025 was defined by a complex interplay of political fragmentation and regional instability, exacerbated by a massive influx of people fleeing the conflict in Sudan. Despite the 2020 ceasefire, the persistent governmental division between the east and west of the country left around 787,000 people in need, with nearly 40% of the population facing critical multi-sectoral needs. The operating environment remained extremely fragile, marked by urban clashes and a severe administrative crisis which, in March 2025, led to the temporary suspension of several international organisations. Although INTERSOS resumed operations in September, the interruption severely hampered the delivery of essential health and protection services.

The epicentre of the crisis has shifted towards Al Kufra, where the arrival of over 40,000 Sudanese refugees has placed heavy pressure on municipal services, which are now insufficient to ensure an adequate response, whilst the south of the country faces chronic infrastructure collapse and an alarming water shortage, a sign of the severe impact of the climate crisis. As Libya is not a signatory to the 1951 Geneva Convention on Refugees, around 70% of migrants live in a state of ‘legal invisibility’, exposed to constant risks of arbitrary detention and deportation. The economic crisis, exacerbated by currency devaluation and rising food costs, has forced 90% of refugee households to reduce their food consumption. In this context, children remain the hardest-hit group. In particular, almost 80% of Sudanese families report being unable to enrol their children in school.

INTERSOS’ intervention

In 2025, INTERSOS operated in Libya to ensure access to essential services for migrants, refugees, internally displaced persons and vulnerable host communities. Despite the significant administrative and security challenges that characterised the year, the organisation maintained its commitment in the sectors of Protection, Health and Nutrition, Emergency Education, and Water and Sanitation, focusing in particular on women, children and young people exposed to serious risks of exploitation and social exclusion.

The operational model was based on a hybrid system combining static service points, such as community centres, with mobile outreach units. This flexibility made it possible to reach populations in urban settings and remote areas, overcoming the geographical and financial barriers that often prevent the most vulnerable from accessing care. In the health sector, mobile clinics played a crucial role, providing basic health consultations, maternal care and nutritional screening in areas where the national health system is severely weakened. In terms of protection, INTERSOS has ensured individual case management for the most vulnerable, psychosocial support and legal assistance for undocumented individuals, and has established structured referral pathways for at-risk minors and survivors of gender-based violence.

The focus on education centred on the educational reintegration of children and adolescents outside the formal education system, through non-formal education programmes and life skills and sessions aimed at strengthening the resilience of children affected by instability. Finally, the response in the water and sanitation sector involved the distribution of hygiene kits and the rehabilitation of water infrastructure in informal refugee settlements.