Since the 2011 Arab Spring and the fall of Muammar Gaddafi, Libya has been tentatively working towards stability for its citizens. In the instability, Libyans have been struggling to gain access to basic needs such as health care and food. Ten years after the liberation, “of the country’s 6.7 million inhabitants, 460,000 people needed protection and 1.1 million people did not have access to health services.” The country has faced natural disasters, wars and continued political instability which means that entire communities find themselves at risk of or in poverty. Of these people, those most at risk include children, women and migrants. However, within recent years, with the hope of calming political hostility and increased interaction with foreign aid, Libya is reporting new wins in the poverty reduction.

Storm Daniel

In September 2023, Storm Daniel hit the eastern part of Libya and wreaked tragedy on the already suffering country. Two major dams failed and millions of cubic meters of water flooded the city of Derna, affecting 1.6 million people. It was hoped that in the wake of this, international aid would be incentivized and poverty reduction in Libya would be catalyzed. In turn, fixing not just the effects of Storm Daniel, but years of poverty due to institutional neglect and division.

The International Federation of Red Cross (IFRC) recognized the urgency of the situation and quickly delegated 1 million CHF to target 253,000 through the Disaster Response Emergency Fund. This allowed Premiere Urgence Internationale to work with the Libyan Red Cross to lead evacuation missions and provide medical care and emergency shelter.

The Need for Long-Term Aid

Whilst short-term aid has helped the most at-risk poverty cases that the destruction of natural disasters created, Storm David has shed light on the need for long-term impactful aid to end years of institutionalized poverty.

The World Food Programme (WFP) has highlighted that there are “many opportunities for national and international stakeholders to work in partnership to overcome the impediments on Libya’s path to inclusive, sustainable and peaceful development.” Libya has a huge potential for economic growth. It has “not only the largest proven oil reserves in Africa” but supreme conditions for renewables and raw materials also in plentiful supply.

To guarantee a reduction in corruption and successful delivery of funds to poverty reduction schemes in Libya, the international community needs to help promote sustained political security. In 2024, a coalition with Tunisia and Algeria has done just this as it is aimed at furthering “security, stability and development throughout the region.” Post Storm Daniel, this reflects attempts from Libya to secure stability both internationally and regionally.

International Aid for Long-Term Poverty Relief

In 2022, the EU committed funds with the overarching aim of improving and creating resilient health outcomes in the Libyan population, particularly among those most at risk or vulnerable. The action takes into account the sensitive context in which Libya’s citizens are suffering within the health care sector through a twin-track approach. At a local level, interventions will cater to marginalized populations that require primary healthcare services. At a national level, the second of the twin-track approaches will strengthen national-level institutions to enable better governance and stewardship. Therefore, the EU has highlighted a need to focus on structural support as well as initiatives that directly affect health within Libyan communities.

In the long term, Libya joined Universal Health Coverage 2030 (UHC2030) in 2018. The UHC aims to build stronger health systems and allows international collaboration to create this. Libya’s commitment to the organization reflects the country’s ongoing attempt to improve the living standard of its citizens by making international-level commitments.

School Meals

The government has been collaborating with other organizations as it recognizes the requirement of external aid to carry out poverty reduction in Libya. In 2022, the Libyan Ministry for Education worked with the WFP and the Central Kitchen to help secure breakfast and lunch options for 7,000 students. Most excitingly, the government stated that they “hope to implement this project in other parts of the country so that more children have access to education and nutritious food.”

Since this point, the Minister for Education states it has elevated the number of students receiving school meals to 50,000 with the hope of aiding 2.1 million by 2026, with an aspiration to expand this program to all Libyan schools across all cities by 2030. Moreover, to strengthen national food systems, in March, WFP launched the new Country Strategic Plan for March 2023 – December 2025. The plans are to provide general food assistance, livelihood support, capacity strengthening, school feeding and on-demand services across all of Libya.

The Future

It is undeniable that a history of political insecurity and war met with natural disasters, has created systemic inequality and poverty in Libya. But these challenges have been met with domestic and international efforts, especially since Storm David. The World Bank has highlighted that Libya’s rich capacity of resources should not be overlooked as a source of recovery and financial leverage in the future. Poverty reduction in Libya is occurring through increased international engagement, recognizing the importance of allegiances and funding, and a rejuvenated recognition of its civilian needs.

– Kathryn Dodd

Kathryn is based in Toulouse, France and focuses on Technology for The Borgen Project.

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