Thank you very much, and thank you for the invitation to this committee meeting.
I'd like to speak with you today about CIDA's response to the Libyan crisis.
The nature of the conflict in Libya is driving the humanitarian response in such a way that programming is divided into two distinct but interrelated operations. First, we're focusing on a response along Libya's borders in support of those who have fled the crisis. Inside Libya, we're focusing on a response to the needs of the population caught in the midst of a series of localized but intense conflict zones.
In the border regions the ongoing crisis has resulted in the outflow of a large number of people from Libya. As of August 1, 646,600 migrants have crossed the Libyan border into Tunisia, Egypt, Chad, Niger, Algeria, and Sudan to escape the violence. These people fit into two categories: they are either third-country nationals--i.e., migrants who have crossed from Libya to a country that is not their country of origin--or migrants who have returned to their own country.
The humanitarian response in the border regions has concentrated on the needs of nearly 300,000 third-country nationals who are migrant workers from more than 25 countries, as well as other people of concern, namely refugees.
This assistance has come in the form of transit camps established at crossing points in Tunisia, as well as some facilities in Egypt to shelter the displaced and provide requisite services until they are repatriated to their countries of origin or, in the case of refugees, until longer-term solutions can be found.
To date, as of August 1, some 156,300 migrant workers, or third-country nationals, have been assisted to return to their countries of origin. The International Organization of Migration, IOM, has helped to assist in this process, thereby averting a humanitarian crisis on the borders.
To help respond to the specific needs of the people caught in the border regions, CIDA is working with a number of organizations, namely, as I mentioned, the IOM, as well as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, and the Canadian Red Cross Society.
Canadian support is assisting in the repatriation of over 156,000 migrant workers to their countries of origin by providing shelter, food, water, and non-food items to 150,000 migrants, refugees, and other persons of concern stranded on the Egyptian and Tunisian borders. Canadian assistance also supports the basic health care for 100,000 people in transit.
Turning to the situation inside Libya, in opposition-controlled areas in the east around Benghazi, the humanitarian situation is largely stable with extensive access and freedom of movement reported by humanitarian actors.
Humanitarian needs in these areas are modest and activities are focused on responding to some food and non-food distribution, provision of medical supplies, and water and sanitation activities.
However, there are many pockets of intense fighting along the frontlines between the opposing forces as well as in isolated opposition-controlled areas in the west of the country. The intensity of the fighting in these locations has placed the civilian population at greater risk and has resulted in intermittent and/or limited access for all but a few experienced humanitarian actors.
To help respond to the needs of Libyans affected by the conflict in-country, CIDA is working with the World Food Programme, the International Committee of the Red Cross and the United Nations Population Fund.
CIDA support to its partners has helped provide food assistance and non-food items, as well as meet the water, sanitation and emergency medical needs of more than 500,000 people inside Libya. Funding to UNFPA will assist up to 50,000 women and girls affected by gender-based violence.
Of note, the funding to WFP and the ICRC is regional in nature, and includes the provision of assistance to Libyans and others affected by the conflict in Tunisia and Egypt as well those in Libya.
However, the funding to UNFPA is to protect and assist women and girls from gender-based violence, primarily in Libya.
This brings CIDA’s total humanitarian assistance to $10 million, announced by the Prime Minister and Minister Oda on June 14 ($2 million) and in March ($8 million).
CIDA continues to closely monitor the humanitarian situation in Libya and the surrounding countries.
Thank you.