By: Yaqin Laswad
Kufra City – The Emergency Medicine and Support Center (EMSC) has confirmed that no cases of cholera have been recorded in the city of Kufra in southeast Libya, noting that the continuous efforts in raising awareness has begun to ensure the safety of the city’s residents.
The center stated that a meeting was held, last Wednesday in the Tropical Medicine Center between the Kufra Municipal Council and the World Health Organization (WHO) regarding cholera infection in Kufra and other parts of Libya.
In 2024, Kufra region witnessed an influx of Sudanese refugees of about 446,000 Sudanese refugees along with the host community members in Libya.
The meeting was attended by all relevant parties, including: Municipal Guards, Water Company, Local Mukhtars, the Kufra Emergency Medicine and Support Office, the Health Emergency Room, Health Services and Health Institutions in Kufra, the Environmental Sanitation Office, the Municipal Guards, the Water Company, and local tribal heads.
The attendees discussed efforts to spread health awareness among citizens, clarify the measures taken by each agency to combat the infection, and emphasize the importance of dealing with awareness without exaggeration or causing panic among residents.
Also, the Kufra Office at the Emergency Medicine and Support Center participated in the “Acute Watery Diarrhea Epidemic Preparedness and Response” training, which was coordinated by the World Health Organization, UNICEF, the National Center for Disease Control, and the Kufra Health Emergency Room.
The training aimed to raise rapid response levels, enhance coordination among supporting agencies, and promote community awareness in general.
The training concluded on Friday after five consecutive days of theoretical and practical development and workshops. It should be noted that this training is a precautionary measure and future preparation, as no cases of this disease have been recorded to date.
In December 2024, the UN delegation discussed the “Sudanese Refugee Response Plan for Libya” (SRRPL) with local authorities, partners, refugees, and host communities the statement said. Adding that “this visit aimed to gain firsthand insights into the challenges and successes of the ongoing humanitarian efforts and to identify areas for improvement in providing lifesaving assistance to the growing number of Sudanese refugees in the region and supporting the resilience of host communities, in partnership with Libyan authorities.”
