Question to the Department for International Development:

To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what recent assessment she has made of the humanitarian situation in Libya since the upsurge in violence in that country and the resultant displacement of civilians; and what plans she has to support the humanitarian effort in that country.

Following the announcement by General Haftar of his Libyan National Army’s advance on Tripoli on 4 April, the UK has been working hard with our international partners to avert further bloodshed in the capital and to get the parties back to the negotiating table with UN Envoy Salamé as soon as possible.

We continue to closely monitor the security situation across the whole of Libya to assess where aid can be delivered to alleviate the humanitarian situation.

We are currently supporting the humanitarian effort in Libya through a £3.29 million programme which provides assistance to vulnerable people, improves access to primary health care, builds capacity of health care workers and bolsters humanitarian coordination and capability. We have also allocated up to £5 million to humanitarian assistance and protection for migrants and refugees in Libya, including targeted healthcare.

The UK government has allocated £16m for Libya this financial year through the Conflict, Security and Stability Fund (CSSF) to boost political participation and economic development, and support the delivery of greater security, stability and resilience, including the fight against extremism.

Furthermore, through our contribution to the EU Trust Fund, the UK has supported the EU and Africa Union joint commitment to significantly increase voluntary returns of those who want to leave Libya (as agreed at the EU-AU Summit in November 2017). Since then, more than 34,000 people have benefitted from Voluntary Humanitarian Return Assistance and been supported to return home.