Welcome
Support for a stable Libya
Fatma Ibrahim Mohammed receiving medicines in the health centre pharmacy in Kikla. The medical centre was provided by the Stabilization Facility for Libya., © UNDP Libya/Malek Almaghrebi
Germany is providing humanitarian assistance and supporting stabilisation measures in the country, one of Europe’s direct neighbours, in order to underpin the political process.
Three years on from the signing of the Libyan Political Agreement, the Presidency Council and the Government of National Accord have only limited influence in individual regions of the country and in a few parts of the capital.
The Federal Foreign Office is committed not only to preventing a resurgence of the conflict, but also to improving the environment for a political solution in Libya. Along with its international partners, Germany supports the political mediation process brokered by the Special Representative of the UN Secretary General to Libya, Ghassan Salamé. His Action Plan envisages a National Conference bringing together all parties to the conflict if possible, to take place in the early months of 2019 and to be followed by general elections.
Regaining confidence in the state: Stabilisation
In order to ensure political harmony and a sustainable peace settlement, it is crucial that the people of Libya regain confidence in their country, that they feel safe there and that they can rely on basic services. The Stabilization Facility for Libya, initiated largely by Germany and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) aims to make this a reality. A series of coordinated individual measures which can be rapidly implemented are intended to make the Government of National Accord’s capacity to act much more visible to citizens and to improve their living conditions, as a “peace dividend”. As the largest of 14 bilateral donors, Germany has contributed 28.5 million euros to date.
Among other things, the Stabilization Facility has provided materials for hospitals, improved the water supply, resumed refuse collection and rehabilitated basic infrastructure such as schools and roads. Building on this, the measures strengthen local administrative structures: municipalities are given advice on planning and cooperation with state agencies, and local decision makers are given training in how to meet the people’s needs in a more targeted manner.
In addition, support is given to reconciliation initiatives for local civil society in all parts of the country. For crises often emerge because people feel that their concerns are being ignored or that they are not represented, or because parties to conflicts cannot find a way to enter into dialogue with each other.
Vital support for people in need of protection: Humanitarian assistance
Hundreds of thousands of people in Libya are dependent on humanitarian assistance. Many of them are internally displaced Libyans, or foreign refugees and migrants. The refugees and migrants in particular suffer widespread human rights violations and a lack of protection from the state. The poor supply situation – the electricity supply is inadequate, cash is scarce and the health system is largely in tatters – is another factor increasing the population’s discontent with the status quo.
The Federal Foreign Office has been providing humanitarian assistance for people in need in Libya since 2014. The focus is on groups in particular need of protection, such as women, children, disabled persons, internally displaced persons, refugees and migrants. In cooperation with humanitarian aid organisations of the United Nations and the International Committee of the Red Cross, Germany, which donated around 10.5 million euros in 2018, makes an important contribution to ensure that the people concerned get foodstuffs and psychosocial support, find refuge from armed conflicts and have access to basic medical services. Furthermore, the funding is used to restore basic infrastructure in the fields of water, sanitation and hygiene.