Relief ship delivers vital British aid to Misrata, Libya

07 April 2011

A relief ship carrying British-funded medical and emergency food supplies has successfully reached the port of the besieged town of Misrata, International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell confirmed today.

The Marianne Danica was chartered by the UN’s World Food Programme and was loaded with aid, including crucial supplies for UNICEF funded by DFID. This breakthrough shipment of aid for Libyan people caught up in the fighting includes:

• Medicine for 30,000 people for one month;
• High energy protein biscuits for 10,000 children and adults;
• Water purification kits for 2,000 families so they have safe water to drink
• Hygiene kits for 2,000 families to help prevent the spread of germs;
• Obstetric and midwifery kits for 200 births;
• Books and toys for 3,750 children.

This is the largest shipment of British-funded aid to reach Misrata, providing crucial help for those who have been largely cut off to date. It will help the sick and wounded, and those who have been unable to get the medical help they need because of constraints on movement. There are serious and ongoing concerns about the current humanitarian situation following continuous fighting around the town.

The ship was chartered from the Turkish port of Izmir and loaded with 30 metric tonnes of UNICEF relief supplies funded by the UK, as well as supplies from the World Health Organisation and the World Food Programme.

British International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell said:

“Misrata has been under siege for forty days now by Qadhafi’s forces. While the fighting means it’s difficult to get a clear picture of the situation on the ground, we’ve had reports that water and electricity have been severely disrupted, that there are shortages of food and medical supplies, and that local people can’t leave freely. It’s safe to presume that the situation right now is pretty grim.

“The supplies that we’re providing will meet the immediate needs that are inevitable after more than a month of almost total isolation. But it also sends a message to the people of Misrata that they haven’t been forgotten by the rest of the world – to that end, we must continue to explore every avenue to keep getting aid to those in desperate need.”

WFP Executive Director, Josette Sheeran said:

“This is a breakthrough for the UN humanitarian operation in Libya and allows us to reach tens of thousands of people who are caught in one of the fiercest areas of conflict. It is vital that we get these relief supplies to the vulnerable – especially women and children – and we are working with local partners, including the Libyan Red Crescent, to ensure their needs are met.”

This aid is the latest British humanitarian support to reach the people of Libya. At the weekend, the UK sent tents to provide emergency shelter to over 10,000 people inside the country who have been driven out of their homes by ongoing fighting. These tents have now crossed the Egyptian border and are currently en route to Benghazi.

Britain has already funded the International Committee of the Red Cross, which is providing support for up to 100,000 people for basic necessities, and medical supplies and treatment to 3,000 people affected by the ongoing fighting in Libya. 

It has also helped to fly at least 12,500 migrant workers trapped on the borders back to their countries and their families to help avoid a logistical problem becoming a humanitarian crisis, as well as providing tents and blankets for people when they were stuck at the borders.

For more information contact Chris Kiggell, tel 020 7023 0504 or email c-kiggell@dfid.gov.uk