The continuous influx of Sudanese refugees into Libya persists as an immense challenge for both Libyan authorities and international organization’s, particularly in securing essential humanitarian needs amidst their significant and increasing numbers. This escalating crisis demands an urgent and extensive response.
Rising figures and troubling projections
In this regard, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has announced the arrival of approximately 313,000 Sudanese refugees in Libya since the conflict erupted in their country in 2023. The UNHCR projected that the number of Sudanese refugees in need would reach 621,000 by the end of 2025, representing a 40% increase, or an additional 446,000 people in need since November 2024, according to the 2025 Refugee Response Plan.
World Food Programme appeals for urgent funding
The World Food Programme (WFP) revealed its urgent need for $13.5 million in funding to continue providing vital support to Sudanese refugees in Libya. The global programme noted that it would be unable to maintain the level of assistance to targeted refugees unless it receives additional funding, given the current resource constraints.
In April 2025, the WFP’s assistance reached 58,456 Sudanese refugees, including the distribution of 602 metric tons of food, in addition to cash transfers totalling $64,650. Nevertheless, the programme still requires an additional $5 million to fund its operations for the next six months, from June to November.
Kufra: A transit point under immense pressure
In Kufra city, a primary transit point for refugees arriving from Sudan, the number of Sudanese refugees who have sought refuge there alone has reached 65,000 since the beginning of the war in 2023. This figure is placing immense pressure on the city’s resources.
Authorities reported issuing 140,500 health certificates to refugees during 2024, with approximately 198,000 Sudanese arrivals registered through the city alone, at a daily rate ranging from 400 to 500 new arrivals. A UNHCR report anticipated that the “true figures” of Sudanese displaced persons in Libya, specifically Kufra, would be “much higher,” given the challenging conditions of escape across the desert and the inability of many refugees to reach registration centres, which makes determining the exact number difficult.
Many Sudanese seek refuge in Kufra due to its geographical proximity, being only 350 kilometres from the nearest Sudanese border point.
Pressing challenges and calls for support
With Kufra’s population effectively doubling due to the influx of thousands of Sudanese refugees, Abdullah Suleiman, the head of Kufra Municipality’s media office, revealed that the city now hosts over 40 Sudanese refugee gatherings, and this number now equals the city’s original population.
The city’s magnetic pull for successive waves of refugees presents formidable challenges. Suleiman stated in media remarks that the city’s institutions are “unprepared to provide services and need more support and capabilities,” disclosing that “refugees are living in tragic conditions.”
Given the increasing number of Sudanese refugees in Libya, there remains an urgent need for concerted efforts from various Libyan state institutions and local and international humanitarian organisations. This collaboration is crucial to meet the refugees’ needs and provide them with humane living conditions, as well as to mitigate the negative impacts of their displacement on host communities.