TRIPOLI – 20 October 2024– Deputy Special Representative for the Secretary General and Officer-in-Charge of UNSMIL Stephanie Koury joined representatives from UNDP, UNICEF and UN Women in a panel discussion hosted at the High National Elections Commission (HNEC), to launch the second cohort of the Ra’idat training programme for young Libyan women today. Thirty-five young women aged 18-30 from across Libya came to Tripoli to undertake the first in a series of six three/four-day training sessions focused on building their communication, teamwork, leadership and advocacy skills as well as their knowledge of human rights. This is the second year of the Ra’idat programme, with the first cohort graduating in June 2024. Opening the panel discussion, HNEC Commissioner Rabab Halab encouraged the participants to work on topics which can echo and create opportunity for genuine change as well as being inspirational to others. “Building trust and self confidence among yourselves is important,” she said, “don’t let the barriers and challenges you will face as women stop you moving forward.”  DSRSG Koury agreed, adding that “creating a network of people – men and women – who can support you is important to successfully bringing about change. It is important that there are opportunities for women to engage in the political process, and that is why UNSMIL continues to support fair representation in the institutions so that we break down barriers and have female representatives.” The Ra’idat programme brings together women from a range of backgrounds, regions and cultural components. Of the 35 women in the programme, each region is represented equally with 27% coming from different cultural components and 10% of participants with special needs. Discussing the barriers young people, particularly young women, face when engaging with decision-makers, Khadija Elboasihi, Women Empowerment Advisor at UNDP Libya, said that: “Knowledge is power. Women need to be well equipped with knowledge about their rights and prepared to seize any opportunities that come their way. Through Ra’idat we have seen networks of women begin supporting each other and work together. A pioneer – the meaning of Ra’idat in English – is someone who opens up the path for those behind them, paving the way for future generations.”  Deputy Representative for UN Women, Isadora Demoura, highlighted the work the agency has been doing with HNEC to support women’s political participation in elections. In answer to questions from the young women around online safety and taking advantage of new digital opportunities, she added that the Ra’idat programme was about building the capacity and capability of young women to transform their communities for the better, but that safety was always paramount. To end the discussion, UNICEF acting representative Abulsalam Al-Souhigi reflected on the Libyan youth climate summit the agency held the previous week. “Enhancing the capability of women and youth in order to create opportunities for dialogue with decision-making entities, is an important part of the work the UN is doing in Libya,” he added. The Ra’idat programme is a UN in Libya programme led by UNSMIL and supported by UN Women, UNDP, UNICEF and HNEC as a Libyan partner. Last year, some thirty young women took part in the training, and the graduates have now established the Ra’idat Alumni Network, to continue to work together on key issues and develop community projects. 

  Over the RubbleHe sat on the crumpled remains of a car, twisted and bent by the merciless floodwaters that had ravaged his village. The metal beneath him groaned under the weight of his grief, as if it, too, mourned the lives lost.He pointed to the ruin opposite him. “This entire family is gone,” he said, his voice heavy with the weight of unspeakable loss.“Have you lost anyone?” we asked.His eyes filled with tears, and he nodded, his hand trembling as he pointed to one side of the ruin. “I lost six family members here.” His voice broke, and he gestured in another direction, “Five more over there,” he paused, his breath catching in his throat before he finally added, his voice barely a whisper, “and my mother.”He clenched his fists, struggling to maintain his composure, the pain of his loss evident in every line of his face. He paused to hold back the sobs.Finally, he spoke again, his voice filled with quiet resolve, “Everything can be replaced but my mother.”As we witness the aftermath of Storm-Daniel, not only homes and buildings has been destroyed but lives, and entire families have been swept away  Healing Together"It was an extremely difficult night, and the rain was heavy. The rain didn’t stop that night, and we had never seen such rain in Derna before. We lost contact with my father, and then the news started coming to us one by one. that those who didn’t leave the area where our house was located are missing, and bodies are everywhere." Nouria painfully recallsNouria and her best friend Basent, both 10 years old, stand side by side in the streets of Derna, Libya, where their lives were forever changed by the devastating floods caused by Storm Daniel on September 10, 2023. Nouria lost her father that night, a tragedy that has left a deep scar on her young heart. Basent, though not directly impacted by the loss of a family member, grieves alongside her friend, reflecting on the man who always greeted them with a smile and encouraged their studies.Crises and natural disasters are among the most important factors that play a pivotal role in a child's mental health. A child's feelings of fear and anxiety can lead to psychological trauma if not addressed in a scientific and educational manner.This photo captures the children resilience and the deep friendship that helps them navigate the aftermath of the disaster. With the support of a UNICEF-led psychological support team, children like Nouria and Basent are slowly finding ways to heal, learning to adapt to the changes in their lives, and even setting new goals for the future. The importance of such support cannot be overstated, as it provides them with the tools they need to cope with trauma and begin rebuilding their lives.  Journey of Loss, Hope, and Rebuilding“Every day we wake up to the trauma of what happened, as if it's on replay. We remember the old Derna. We want to coexist with the pain and memories of those we lost while rebuilding our city,” says Yasmin, a young entrepreneur and civil society activist from Derna. Although she survived the tragic floods with her immediate family, thanks to their home being on higher ground, she lost over 30 members of her extended family.Yasmin vividly recalls the events of that tragic day. “At dawn, I asked my father if I could go with him to see the effects of the floods in the city with my own eyes. I saw people near the port, frantically lifting rubble and, at first, not realizing that they were searching for their loved ones.”Despite the immense trauma, Yasmin has remained resilient. As a Scouts leader, she naturally took to using her online platforms to amplify SOS calls and network for aid. Her leadership and determination shone through, even during such dark times. Just 40 days after the tragedy, Yasmin made the bold decision to reopen ‘Flamingo,’ the photography studio she co-manages with her sister. Typically, a place to capture joyous moments—weddings and graduations—the studio now serves a dual purpose: supporting local business owners by promoting their ventures and helping those who lost official documents.Today, Yasmin continues to operate the studio, driven by her commitment to giving people hope after the devastation. "This is not the first time Derna has faced adversity. We’ve seen it rise from the ashes before, overcoming numerous challenges. It will take concentrated efforts to restore Derna to what it once was, but I believe it can—and will," she concludes.  Rising from the Flood“The tragedy struck us at 3 a.m. The amount of water was terrible, leading to the complete destruction of the bakery “ Mustafa Al-Jibani, owner of Al-Jibani bakery.The floods did not only destroyed homes and essential services. The aftermath was grim: mud-covered ovens and damaged homes left communities struggling to recover. Among the hardest-hit were local bakeries, a crucial source of sustenance for many families. In response, the UN through WFP mobilized to help rebuild these bakeries, providing equipment such as ovens, mixers, and generators.Thanks to the intervention, 32 bakeries in Derna received modern equipment, allowing them to reopen and improve their production capacity. Ahmed Al-Misrati, owner of Al-Aneeq bakery, expressed his relief: “We were informed that a full bakery would be provided. They fulfilled their promise and asked us to complete the procedures. We even called back the workers who survived the flood to return to work.”The impact extended beyond just reopening businesses. Bait Al-Jouda bakery, one of the few in its neighborhood, also received critical support. “After the flood, we were severely impacted; my mother and father passed away, which really affected us. I wanted to open the bakery again, but I couldn’t due to the damages. There were no neighbors around, no electricity, and no water. When we heard about this rehabilitation project, we applied, and thank God we were chosen,” said the owner. “We received modern equipment such as rack ovens, mixers, and generators. Now, we are producing different types of bread and pastries and moving forward every day.”Through this initiative, the UN’s efforts have enabled bakeries like these to not only recover but also thrive, ensuring the continuity of vital food services and rebuilding livelihoods in the aftermath of disaster.  Starting over for the Second TimeThey had fled a war, only to be caught in a deadly storm.Standing on a patch of dry ground in front of their new home, Asma and Abdelraham clutched their two young boys in their arms—one barely walking. Abdelraham’s voice trembled as he spoke about the day the floods came.“We had just begun to feel safe,” he said, his words heavy with the weight of their losses. "In Sudan, we lived stable lives until the war came. We had no choice but to flee." His voice faltered as he described their escape to Derna. A peaceful city by the sea, it had offered them the promise of safety. "It was beautiful here," he continued. "We had started to build a life."Then came the night of the storm.Heavy rains battered their home near the shoreline, relentless and unforgiving. "The water started rising," Abdelraham recalled, his eyes clouding with the memory. "We didn't understand how bad it would get."Asma’s voice broke as she remembered that terrifying night. "The Red Crescent came in the middle of the night, yelling for us to leave. We were fortunate that we escaped. So many others... they didn’t." She paused, her hands shaking as she recounted the bodies in the streets and buildings collapsing like cards. "I keep thinking about when I was in the middle of it all and how I managed to get out.""The people of Libya stood with us," Abdelrahman continued. "We received temporary shelter and aid, but the pain of what we saw—that remains."The storm had swept away their home, their belongings, and their sense of security. But as the days passed, they held onto each other, determined to rebuild yet again. One year after the devastating Storm Daniel disaster, the remarkable resilience of the affected communities shines through, as significant progress has been made in recovery efforts. However, much remains to be done, and continued support is essential to fully rebuild lives and livelihoods. The UN in Libya remains committed to standing by these communities, just as it has since day one, helping them navigate their journey of mourning, healing, and rebuilding their lives and neighborhoods.  

 Libya is one of many countries threatened by desertification. The country's limited water resources and over-extraction of groundwater for agricultural and other uses exacerbate this issue. In the far southeastern region of Libya, the second largest oasis in Africa, lies Kufra, known for its unique climate, a blend of tropical and Mediterranean influences, and its rich mango production.Mango produced in Kufra   (Abdeladeem Ajaj / UNDP Libya)Farmers in Kufra, like Ahmed Alamin, struggle to maintain their produce with the limited water resources available. "Without water, there would be no produce, no vegetables, no fruits," he says. "Both tropical and Mediterranean plants thrive here but require proper care. The absence of water would mean the loss  of these plants and vegetables from Libya in general, and Kufra in particular."The water supply system in Kufra relies on pumping water from wells to various water networks. However, the limited number of wells has led to water shortages, especially during the scorching summer months. In response, the United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) Recovery, Stability, and Socio-economic Development project, in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and with generous funding from the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa, has supported the Municipality of Kufra in improving its water supply system. This initiative included the addition of two water boreholes, enhancing the water supply for 6,600 residents.Mr. Yousef Al-Mari, a representative of the Local Council in Kufra, shares: "The residents of the Shura neighbourhood faced a daily struggle to secure drinking water, often having to journey to nearby areas like Suwaydiya. This hardship has been alleviated thanks to the new borehole constructed by UNDP, which provides much-needed relief to the communities in Shura and similarly in the Al-Mukhtar neighbourhood," he says.Libya is grappling with a severe water crisis, ranking among the world's most water-stressed nations. The country's overreliance on groundwater for nearly 97% of its water supply intensifies this problem. This acute water scarcity casts a long shadow over agriculture, food security, and the overall well-being of its population.Water is the lifeblood of any society, and its scarcity in Libya poses a formidable threat to livelihoods, economic growth, and environmental sustainability.“If water becomes scarce, people, including myself, will be forced to migrate to coastal and rainy areas. Water is the lifeblood of this region, especially for Kufra."Ahmed Alamin concludes. 

TRIPOLI – 13 August – Over 20 Libyan young men and women gathered in the UN compound in Tripoli to share their ideas in a workshop on fostering civic space to mark International Youth Day. The workshop, held yesterday, focused on the identifying the most effective ways youth could use civic space to influence policy changes, leverage mechanisms to ensure fair and transparent electoral processes and how youth-led initiatives to promote civic space could be better supported. “A vibrant civic space is essential for a healthy democracy,” said Suki Nagra, Director of Human Rights, Rule of Law and Transitional Justice in UNSMIL who joined the workshop. “It allows citizens, civil society organisations and other groups to freely express themselves, participate in decision-making processes, and hold their governments to account.” Through discussions in breakout groups, the young men and women in the workshop made the following recommendations: Civic space needs to be expanded and protected: restrictions on civic space need to be reduced; creating a secure environment for civil society to engage with communities should be seen as working alongside the state, not detracting from it.  More needs to be done to raise awareness of what civil society is, so that misconceptions and misinformation do not take root in wider communities. Social media represents an opportunity for civil society to influence decision-makers and to rebut misinformation. Civic space must include all segments of society including women, cultural components, community leaders and those with disabilities, and they should be reached through targeted campaigns on social media, and appropriate communication channels .  Youth resilience needs to be built to ensure they can engage consistently in the discussion and continue to advocate throughout the lobbying process. More needs to be done to bring civil society together to collaborate and work on shared goals and commitments and encourage members of the public to join them; civil society organisations should be encouraged to with partner national and international organisations to share experiences and knowledge. More needs to be done to educate communities on peaceful dialogue and how to engage in healthy debates, as well as how to fact check information. Language used needs to be carefully considered. Youth need to be educated more about their rights and how they can engage in the electoral process as candidates and voters and in their role in promoting voter participation at the municipal level. Establish focal points across Libya to build a network of youth and civil society organisations who work with local communities to provide workshops and skills training on key topics. “Civil society is the engine behind any political process and youth can be the catalyst for change,” said one workshop participant. “Civil society groups should work together more and collaborate on the issues where they complement each other so that they have more influence,” said another. The workshop was part of UNSMIL’s new youth strategy – YouEngage, which aims to engage with 1,000 young men and women by May 2025 through workshops, trainings and advocacy sessions. Many more sessions are organized and are communicated using UNSMIL’s youth groups on Facebook and LinkedIn.