---
title: "NRC in Libya"
description: "Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced across Libya, due to conflict, economic instability and climate change. Along with returnees and other vulnerable communities, they face huge difficulties in accessing rights, basic services and opportunities."
url: "https://www.nrc.no/countries/africa/libya"
language: "en"
published: "2025-03-19T15:29:18Z"
modified: "2025-05-07T07:58:34Z"
---

# NRC in Libya

An NRC staff member assesses the situation in Derna, three months on from the catastrophic floods that devastated the city. Photo: Mohamed Alfahd/NRC

Hundreds of thousands of people have been displaced across Libya, due to conflict, economic instability and climate change. Along with returnees and other vulnerable communities, they face huge difficulties in accessing rights, basic services and opportunities – leaving them urgently in need of humanitarian assistance.

Published 19. Mar 2025 Updated 07. May 2025

[Libya](https://www.nrc.no/themes?categoryId=77)

In addition, vast numbers of refugees and migrants arrive in Libya every year, with many hoping to travel on into Europe. But many are stranded in the country with uncertain legal status and limited support, unable to either make the journey or go home.

The Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) is hard at work in Libya – supporting all those who need us with shelter, cash grants and other vital assistance, including help to obtain vital legal documentation.

## What’s happening in Libya?

Since 2011, Libya has been mired in a protracted conflict, resulting in increased violence, political fragmentation and economic instability. These factors have triggered widespread population movement. And so too have disasters like the devastating floods of September 2023 – which caused large-scale destruction and displacement, particularly in the north-eastern cities of Derna, Al-Shahat and Al Bayda.

But as well as supporting a large displaced population, Libya is a transit and destination point for many refugees, migrants and asylum seekers. Those who stay in the country find it difficult to get residency, work permits or secure legal status, while those who hope to travel on to Europe must brave the world’s most dangerous migration route – where thousands of people die or go missing every year.

## Our response

We’re working with our partners in the following areas:

- **Shelter and settlements** – repairing and improving shelters for families, as well as rebuilding schools, health clinics and other community facilities.
- **Water, sanitation and hygiene** – helping to improve sanitation facilities and access to safe, clean drinking water.
- **Livelihoods and food security** – providing cash assistance to help people cover their basic needs and develop sustainable livelihoods.
- **Education** – running literacy and numeracy lessons, remedial classes, vocational training and psychosocial support.
- **Information, counselling and legal assistance** – helping people obtain legal civil documentation, claim their rights and access essential services.

[Download the factsheet for NRC in Libya](https://www.nrc.no/resources/fact-sheets/nrc-libya--fact-sheet)

## Our operations

**NRC office established:** 2017

**Areas of operation:** Tunis (Tunisia), Tripoli, Benghazi, Misrata, Ajdabiya, Tawergha

**Country Director:** Thomas Whitworth

**Contact:** [ly.cfm@nrc.no](mailto:ly.cfm@nrc.no)

## Our impact

In 2025, we assisted 38,727 people through our programmes in Libya:

- 2,279

  Education
- 7,331

  Livelihoods and food security
- 21,278

  Shelter and settlements
- 15

  Protection from violence
- 894

  Information, counselling and legal assistance
- 8,731

  Water, sanitation and hygiene

***Note:** some people received more than one type of assistance.*

### News and stories

## [Al Kwifia, Libya: Water flows again](https://www.nrc.no/perspectives/2026/al-kwifia-libya-water-flows-again)

14. Apr 2026 | Libya

Press release

## [Sudan war refugees pushed into hunger as livelihoods collapse across the region](https://www.nrc.no/news/2026/sudan-war-refugees-pushed-into-hunger-as-livelihoods-collapse-across-the-region)

09. Apr 2026 | Chad|Egypt|Libya|South Sudan|Sudan

## [Rebuilding in Eastern Libya](https://www.nrc.no/perspectives/2025/rebuilding-in-eastern-libya)

17. Nov 2025 | Libya

[More news and stories](https://www.nrc.no/search?searchCategories=123,125,172,335,77&searchMethod=1)

### Publications

## [Exhausted: Three years of displacement and the collapse of survival systems in Sudan and the region](https://www.nrc.no/resources/reports/exhausted-three-years-of-displacement-and-the-collapse-of-survival-systems-in-sudan-and-the-region)

09. Apr 2026 | Chad|Egypt|Libya|South Sudan|Sudan

## [Rethinking durable solutions in complex contexts](https://www.nrc.no/feature/rethinking-durable-solutions-in-complex-contexts)

24. Feb 2025 | Report

## [The Nexus in practice: The long journey to impact](https://www.nrc.no/resources/reports/the-nexus-in-practice-the-long-journey-to-impact)

31. Oct 2023 | Afghanistan|Iraq|Libya|Somalia|Cameroon

[More publications](https://www.nrc.no/search?searchCategories=124,131,132,175,178,314,315,77&searchMethod=1)

**Region:** North Africa  
**Population:** 7.46 million  
**Total displaced:** 105,963  
**Refugees hosted:** 0.6 million