UN humanitarian agency to reduce presence in Libya

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has announced that Libya will be among ten countries to see a reduction in the agency’s presence and operations, as part of a plan to cut 20% of its global workforce due to a $58 million budget shortfall.

Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator Martin Griffiths explained that these cuts, which will affect approximately 500 staff worldwide, follow a significant reduction in funding from the United States, the agency’s largest donor.

In addition to Libya, the cuts will include Cameroon, Colombia, Eritrea, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Gaziantep (Turkey), and Zimbabwe. The agency’s total staff is expected to decrease from approximately 2,600 to 2,100.

Griffiths emphasised that “these decisions are driven by reduced funding, not by a decline in humanitarian needs,” noting that these needs are actually increasing globally due to conflict, climate change, and health crises.

OCHA, which coordinates international humanitarian responses, relies heavily on voluntary donations, with the United States’ contribution accounting for approximately 20% of its funding.​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​