Humans in Transit
Stories of survival from the deadly Mediterranean migration route
Libya 2020 © MSF
Libya
Caring for migrants and refugees detained in dire conditions
Our work in Libya
Doctors Without Borders/Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) provided essential health care and support to migrants, refugees, and asylum seekers in Libya until March 2025, when our activities in the country were suspended. We were ordered to leave the country in November 2025.
What's happening in Libya?
Refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants held in detention centers in Libya face abuse and inhumane living conditions, including insufficient access to food, water, sanitation, and medical care, while those attempting the deadly Mediterranean Sea crossing face interceptions by the Libyan Coast Guard.
How we’re helping in Libya
Until March 2025, MSF provided basic health care, sexual and reproductive care, tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis and treatment, and mental health support in Zuwara. We also assisted migrants intercepted at sea at disembarkation points.
In Misrata, we supported the provision of medical assistance to TB patients. In Tripoli, we provided protection and emergency medical services to people in need of assistance, and ran a mobile clinic that visited a detention center once a week.
The March 2025 suspension order was followed by an order by the Libyan Ministry of Foreign Affairs to leave the country in November 2025. We have continued to engage with the authorities to resume our activities.
How we helped
3,040
Outpatient consultations
590
Prenatal consultations
77
Patients started treatment for tuberculosis (TB)
*Data from MSF International Activity Report 2025
More news and stories
Learn about MSF’s journalistic roots and our commitment to bear witness and speak out about the plight of the people we treat.
Story Sep 03, 2025
Humans in Transit: Stories of survival from the deadly Mediterranean m...
Read moreLearn about MSF’s journalistic roots and our commitment to bear witness and speak out about the plight of the people we treat.
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