Libya -  IOM Libya has hosted a four-day workshop in Tunis for 26 enumerators and team leaders from four Libyan partner NGOs designed to establish and to prepare the roll out of the IOM Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) in Libya.

The training was funded by the European Commission Humanitarian Aid Department (ECHO) and is part of a one-year programme focused on internally displaced persons (IDPs) and stranded migrants in Libya.

Political instability has prevailed in Libya since the 2011 overthrow of the regime, which culminated in the collapse of a fragile central authority accompanied by fragmentation and infighting among various militias. Since then an estimated 400,000 people or 8 per cent of the total population have been forced to leave their homes and move to safer areas of the country.

IOM estimates that there are also over a million migrants in Libya, of whom approximately 150,000 are affected by the current insecurity.

IDPs and migrants struggle to live a normal life. They have difficulty accessing basic services, including healthcare, food and adequate shelter. Some seek refuge in improvised homes, including garages, unfinished buildings and public buildings. Others stay in host communities with family or friends, or in rented accommodation.

Many children have been out of school, because of the high school fees or unsafe access. The limited availability of cash and rising prices have reduced IDPs’ access to food and caused some to face eviction, because of their inability to pay their rent.

Psychological trauma and lack of adequate support services are another concern.  Reasons for displacement vary. Some IDPs are threatened by conflict and the presence of armed groups. Others live in fear due to their actual or perceived political affiliation. Some are no longer able to sustain their livelihood in their area of origin.

IOM Libya Chief of Mission Othman Belbeisi explained why a DTM program is needed. “A standard IDP and mobility tracking system is not yet in place in Libya. There is a gap in understanding both the IDP situation, as well as broader trends and patterns related to migration flows through the country. Providing a comprehensive overview and regular updates of the displacement situation is key to identify needs and enable a targeted humanitarian response,” he said.

IOM’s Displacement Tracking Matrix (DTM) system uses a variety of tools and processes to track and monitor population displacement during crises worldwide. The data, which are shared with host governments and the humanitarian community, are used to assess needs and identify priorities. 

The DTM training sessions focused on building the capacity of key implementing partners to collect accurate data nationwide, utilizing a standardized methodology which IOM has tested and refined in many different emergency contexts.

Workshop participants will subsequently train staff from their respective organizations to increase the pool of enumerators and enable timely data collection. Data will be analyzed and regularly disseminated through IOM Libya.

For further information please contact IOM Libya. Othman Belbeisi, Tel. +216 296-00-389, Email: obelbeisi@iom.int or Maysa Khalil, Tel. +216 296-00-388, Email: mkhalil@iom.int