Kufra: In a recent disclosure, Ismail Al-Ayda, head of the emergency room at the Ministry of Health in the parliament-appointed government, announced that more than 180,000 health certificates had been issued to Sudanese refugees in Kufra by the end of March. This development comes as a response to the continuous influx of individuals fleeing the ongoing conflict in Sudan.
According to Libyan News Agency, Al-Ayda expressed concerns over the strain placed on Kufra’s health institutions due to the rising number of Sudanese refugees. He highlighted the challenges posed by dwindling support from numerous UN organizations, compounded by shortages in essential medicines and operating supplies for laboratories and radiology centers. This situation has also increased the burden on medical staff and support personnel.
Adding to this, the mayor of Kufra, Abdul Rahman Aqoub, reported that the arrival of Sudanese refugees into Libya remains substantial, with an estimated 500 people crossing the border daily. Aqoub noted that these numbers have significantly stressed the municipality’s resources and underscored the limited assistance provided by international organizations since the start of the year.
Aqoub further explained that the vast land border shared by Libya and Sudan complicates efforts to accurately record the refugee influx. He also mentioned that many displaced Sudanese are moving from Kufra to cities like Tripoli, Benghazi, and their surrounding areas.
According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Libya is currently home to approximately 200,000 Sudanese refugees escaping the conflict, with around 65,000 of them residing in Kufra, a figure comparable to the local Libyan population.