378,000 Libyan children need urgent humanitarian assistance in 2018: UNICEF

TRIPOLI, Jan. 30 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) confirmed that 378,000 children in Libya need urgent humanitarian assistance and protection in 2018 in a report published Monday.

"After seven years of conflict, the humanitarian situation in Libya continues to deteriorate with 378,000 children in need of life-saving assistance and protection throughout 2018," said the report by the UN Support Mission in Libya.

UNICEF Special Representative to Libya Abdel-Rahman Ghandour said 2018 is a pivotal year for Libya, especially for children.

"This is why at UNICEF, we are appealing for 20 million U.S. dollars to help us scale up our response to provide immediate life-saving assistance as well as long term support to children throughout the country. No matter their background, nationality, gender or race, all children in Libya deserve the chance of a better future," Ghandour added.

The report said that violence and armed conflicts have had a devastating impact on children in Libya.

"Among the 170,000 people displaced, an estimated 54 percent are children. At risk of abuse, violence, human rights violations, vulnerable to recruitment by armed groups and lacking the most basic of services, children throughout Libya are in urgent need of protection and care," the report said.

UNICEF said it aims to provide children in Libya medical and psychological support, education, protection, and sanitation and water services.

"In 2018, UNICEF aims to continue this work supporting the country's Humanitarian Response Plan as well as to restore its full presence of staff and partners to Libya," the report said.

Libya has been plagued by insecurity and a political chaos since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011. Enditem