Libya
The fourth largest country in Africa, Libya is largely covered by desert and sparsely inhabited. Due to the harsh natural environment, agricultural production is very limited. Even before conflict engulfed the country in 2011, 80 percent of the population’s food requirements were imported.
At that time Libya, as one of the world’s most prolific oil-producing nations, maintained large trade surpluses. Although the country’s oil wealth did not percolate down to the wages of ordinary citizens, until 2011 the cost of food at household level was offset to some extent by a welfare state that offered free education and healthcare. Now, the country has a trade deficit and is gripped by a civil war opposing tribal groups, Islamist groups, various other militias and administration forces.
Libya’s population is suffering a major humanitarian crisis. This involves poverty, insecurity, gender-based violence, mass displacement, shortages of food and cash in banks, and frequent power cuts.
What the World Food Programme is doing in Libya
Food assistance
WFP targets Libya’s most vulnerable through onsite food distributions. Each family receives two food parcels, enough to feed five people for one month. The parcels consist of rice, pasta, wheat flour, chickpeas, vegetable oil, sugar and tomato paste. This provides 75 percent (1,530 kcal) of daily energy requirements per person per day. The caloric value of the food basket was designed on the assumption that IDPs have access to other sources of food.
In focus
Libya news releases and publications
Go to pagePartners and donors
Achieving Zero Hunger is the work of many. Our work in Libya is made possible by the support and collaboration of our partners and donors, including:Find out more about the state of food security in Libya
Visit the food security analysis pageContacts
Tunis
Immeuble Le Prestige, Tour F, Rue du lac Windemere, Les Berges du Lac 1 1053
Phone: (+216) 71961860
Fax: (+216) 71961833