humanitarian intervention in response to the libyan crisis egypt salloum

2nd IAWG on RH in Crises MENA Regional Conference –Cairo

March 19-21 , 2012

HUMANITARIAN INTERVENTION IN RESPONSE TO THE LIBYAN CRISIS

EGYPT SALLOUM

Dr. Ahmed Malah - UNFPA Egypt Dr. Ashraf Azer – UNHCR Egypt

OVERVIEW

Egypt was the first country hit by the crisis stemming from Libya at the end of February, receiving large numbers of Migrants and Egyptians

At end of September, IOM, in cooperation with the border authorities, has recorded 226,200 persons, including 140,642 Egyptians (62%) and 85,558 TCNs (38%) crossing the border

Nationals from countries benefitting from a regime of free movement with Egypt (mainly nationals from Middle East countries) did not have to wait for visa processing at the Sallum border crossing point.

Large numbers of Egyptians among the fleeing population and at one point, over 12,500 Egyptians crossed the border on a single day with an estimated total of 166,000 Egyptians have returned home directly through the border but also by air, ground and sea evacuation

By the end of September, IOM has repatriated from Egypt more than 38,000 persons. Most of the TCNs evacuated from Egypt were Chadians (45%) or Nigerians (23%)

OVERVIEW (Cont’d)

UNHCR, IOM, UNFPA, UNICEF, OCHA, WHO, ICRC, IMC and Egyptian Scouts were among the first UN agencies, INGOs, NGOs establishing needed Protection, Shelter, Health, Water, Sanitation, Food , Psycho-social support responses for the stranded population at the Port land site

WHO and IOM, in coordination with MOHP in Matrouh governorate supported the Quarantine Port land clinic to provide PHC services to the stranded TCNs and PoCs

OVERVIEW (Cont’d)

Earlier in the crisis, the MoHP deployed its mobile specialized clinics for TCNs and PoCs

Salloum and Matrouh hospital were rendered accessible for referral health care services

Libyans were granted access to Alexandria and Cairo referral hospitals and received a WHO and UNHCR complementary 2ry and 3ry care health services addressing injured Libyans and those suffering from life threatening chronic illnesses inclusive of TCNs and PoCs

OVERVIEW (CONT’D)

RESIDUAL POPULATION CURRENTLY AFFECTED AMONG

PERSONS OF CONCERN TO UNHCR- January 2012

Male Female Total

Total Population 1377 377 1754

Number of women 15-49 yrs 99 99

Number of infants < 1yr 36 35 71

Number of children <5yrs 55 63 118

WHO called for regular coordination meetings among all humanitarian actors for sustaining health care responses including SRH response for Libyans , TCNs and PoCs to UNHCR

As a key SRH response 4,000 dignity kits (3,000 for males and 1,000 for females) were procured by UNFPA and transported and stockpiled by ERC at the border

30 baby kits were procured by UNFPA and stockpiled in coordination with UNHCR

Most of the RH kits were procured internationally by UNFPA and transported inside Libya by the Egyptian and Libyan Red Crescent

KEY SRH INTERVENTIONS & COORDINATION

Salloum Port land also benefited from Kits related to contraception and HIV/STI prevention

UNFPA, UNHCR and FHI in coordination with MoHP and Matrouh health district organized a MISP training with focus on STIs, Protection and HIV prevention, support and treatment responses

Referral services for women among TCNs and PoCs including for Emergency obstetric care has been also made available through the PHC clinic at the Port land

KEY SRH INTERVENTIONS & COORDINATION

MoHP Mobile clinics fleet deployment at Salloum

& UNFPA procured Dignity kits

Partnerships between UN and Humanitarian NGOs actors contributed to enhancing Health and SRH interventions to the stranded population for the immediate Crisis situation

Coordination with the MoHP at the district level and with other local NGOs (ERC) in delivering RH and Dignity kits was key for an effective SRH intervention for the stranded population

While RH and baby kits were provided for women, modifying Dignity kits to meet the need of stranded population (mostly males) was an example of evidence based programming

SRH RESPONSES STRENGTH

SRH RESPONSES WEAKNESSES

Ongoing monitoring, assessment, surveillance and responses to SRH needs in the Post crisis phase did not receive sustained attention by all Humanitarian actors

Setting a monitoring, evaluation and reporting system at MoHP Salloum clinic and at district level on the use of, stock management and replenishment of RH and Dignity kits, did not receive needed focus to accurately measure impact on reducing morbidities and mortalities

Post crisis surfacing SRH issues including unprotected sex among stranded vulnerable women involved in sex work and effectively addressing the gender based violence and power dynamics with incriminated men, did not receive a needed comprehensive responses by all concerned actors

SRH in Crisis and Post crisis situations Regional support

Compiling and disseminating a “Best practices and lessons learnt” document on MENA Arab spring countries and other regions examples of SRH comprehensive responses in Crisis and Post crisis situations

Developing a Regional guidelines subject to a country by country contextual adaptation and adoption of a National M&E systems on SRH in Crisis and Post crisis situations

Developing a Regional guidelines that can best guide MENA national responses on operational research , surveillance and surveys studies in SRH Crisis and Post crisis situations

THANK YOU