UNICEF

UNICEF works in some of the world’s toughest places, to reach the world’s most disadvantaged children. To save their lives. To defend their rights. To help them fulfil their potential. Across 190 countries and territories, we work for every child, everywhere, every day, to build a better world for everyone.
Every child has the right to nutrition. And today, the need for diets, services and practices that protect, promote and support good nutrition has never been greater.
The vision of the UNICEF Nutrition Strategy 2020– 2030 is “a world where all children, adolescents and women realize their right to nutrition”. This vision is guided by the Convention on the Rights of the Child, which recognizes the right of every child to adequate nutrition. The goal of the Strategy is “to protect and promote diets, services and practices that support optimal nutrition, growth and development for all children, adolescents and women”. This goal aims to contribute to the goal of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development to ensure children’s access to nutritious diets and to end child malnutrition in all its forms. The Libya Country Office has been contributing to the global and national targets for improving health and well-being.
On Sunday, 10 September 2023, the Mediterranean Storm Daniel made landfall in Libya causing severe weather conditions, including fierce winds and sudden heavy rainfall leading to flash flooding affecting several northeastern areas of Libya (Benghazi, Tobruk, Toukra, Talmeitha, Almarj, Taknes (Al Jabal Al Akhdar), Al Owailia, Albayda, Shahhat, Sousa and Derna).
UNICEF is actively responding to the humanitarian crisis caused by Storm Daniel in Eastern Libya to address the urgent nutrition needs of the affected population. The devastating flooding and displacement disrupted access to basic health and nutrition services, and loss of livelihood posing a significant risk of emerging malnutrition, especially for vulnerable groups like children, pregnant women, and the elderly.
Given the lack of coordination between partners, the nutrition thematic working group was initiated by the Residence Coordinator (RC) in Libya on September 17th , 2023, for the flood response to coordinate nutrition sector-related issues and is co-chaired by UNICEF and chaired by the Primary Health Care Institute (PHCI). The role of the Nutrition Thematic Working Group in coordinating and supporting ongoing emergency and recovery interventions is essential to ensure that the most needy receive appropriate, adequate and timely assistance.
Through this coordinated effort, UNICEF aims to ensure that the most vulnerable individuals receive timely and appropriate Nutrition services. Accordingly, UNICEF health and nutrition section, in coordination with (PHCI- MOH), has designed and implemented a package of services to minimize the gap of PHC and nutrition services’ availability and accessibility in a sustainable manner.
UNICEF’s response is aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 2 (Zero Hunger), SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). By addressing nutrition needs, UNICEF aims to eliminate hunger, improve health outcomes, and foster effective partnerships to achieve sustainable development.