Cairo, 26 September 2018 – The alarming level of fighting in Tripoli puts the life of thousands of women and girls at risk. Over 2,000 women and girls are estimated to be currently internally displaced, with pregnant women and lactating mothers suffering serious health consequences. UNFPA is deeply concerned about the protection of refugees, migrants and asylum seekers, who are particularly vulnerable.

We reiterate our call for the safe access of humanitarian agencies to affected populations in Tripoli, and for the conflicting parties to spare civilians the consequences of fighting and ensure their protection.  The humanitarian community must be able to carry out its work, including providing health and hygiene supplies that will help ensure that women deliver safely, and to have mechanisms in place to prevent gender-based violence and provide protection to women and girls in Tripoli.