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CONTEXT & KEY FINDINGS

Context:

Conflict erupted in the city of Benghazi and its suburbs in 2014, slowly progressing from neighbourhood to neighbourhood from Benina westwards. From the end of 2014 until most recently (5 July 2017), there were heavy clashes between the military authorities in Eastern Libya against insurgents comprised of the Shura Council of Benghazi Revolutionaries. Neighbourhoods affected by the conflict sustained heavy damage and were almost completely evacuated. They are now in need of rapid humanitarian assistance and reconstruction. Pressing damage and needs have to be dealt with in a timely fashion to ensure a dignified return for previously displaced families.

In order to enhance the understanding by humanitarian stakeholders on the situation of returnees and returnee areas in Benghazi, ACTED partnered with LibAid to obtain timely information on the situation of returnees and returnee areas in Benghazi, which were until recently affected by conflict to address information gaps and provide this information to local and international stakeholders. Data was collected through workshops with local CSOs working on IDPs and returnees, and local councils. Field visits to these areas were also conducted.

Key Findings:

The neighbourhoods more recently affected by conflict are most damaged and in need of humanitarian assistance. In particular, immediate needs remained in Ganfouda and Guwarsha since the presence of many unexploded ordnances (UXOs) - improvised explosive devices (IEDs) and mines - were reported highlighting grave protection concerns. Similarly, the presence of human remains raises serious health and contamination concerns.

In those neighbourhoods witnessing the end of the conflict earlier (early 2016 and prior), it was reported that the needs and priorities focused much more on rehabilitation of infrastructure and energy networks, or on building reconstruction. In Benina for instance, issues of infrastructure damage regarding water and electricity provision have already been addressed, transport infrastructure were already functional again, the remaining priorities focused on private individuals other needs and housing reconstruction or repair.

Both Downtown neighbourhoods (Sabri and Souq Elhoot) are not properly assessed in this profile since they were still in a state of active conflict at the time of the assessment. However, additional available information highlighted severe priority needs such as environmental pollution, notably the reported presence of mines and of human remains[1].

More:
Benghazi Neighbourhoods and Returnees Profile - Findings from Workshops & Field Visits Libya - August 2017 - ReliefWeb