Description Mid-code Crisis www.worldforlibya.org/news/ Thu, 19 April 2012 14:15:00 Thu, 19 April 2012 14:15:00 /news/posts/2012/04/world-for-libya-partners-with-royal-society-of-medicine-global-health/ World for Libya has been invited to become a partner with the Royal Society of Medicine Global Health Programme on the basis of the Virtual Interactive Surgical Training Academy (VISTA). The VISTA project will allow senior UK and international surgeons to share new techniques and knowledge with Libyan surgeons by interacting over this online training platform. It will involve weekly live interactive teaching sessions, an online library of surgical techniques, discussion forums, case studies and an on-call advice service to international consultants. Professor B. Sethia, the Director of the RSM Global Health Programme said 'We are positive about exploring ways whereby our educational programmes can be shared with Libyan colleagues in an appropriate manner.' Dr. Khan, who is leading the VISTA project, said 'VISTA was inspired by Dr. David Nott's time working Medicine san Frontier in Misrata during the height of the conflict. It's a great honour for World for Libya to help Libyans rebuild Libya'. Through collaborative efforts such as this, World for Libya is dedicated to bringing the best practices from around the world into Libya. For more information on this or any other projects please email: enquiries@worldforlibya.org or please visit: www.worldforlibya.org /news/posts/2012/04/world-for-libya-partners-with-royal-society-of-medicine-global-health/ /news/posts/2012/04/world-for-libya-partners-with-royal-society-of-medicine-global-health/ Thu, 19 April 2012 14:15:00 /news/posts/2012/04/children's-day-event/ On March 21 st 2012, World for Libya collaborated with local and international non governmental organisations, including Save the Children, to sponsor a children's day event in Benghazi. The event was held for over 600 children living with disabilities and was attended by human rights groups and local politicians. World for Libya organised for food and drinks for the end and gave the children books and other schooling equipment.  /news/posts/2012/04/children's-day-event/ /news/posts/2012/04/children's-day-event/ Thu, 05 April 2012 17:09:00 /news/posts/2012/03/world-for-libya-speaks-at-libya's-first-health-strategy-conference/ World for Libya was invited by Dr. Bader Al Shaibani, Head of Training at the Libyan Ministry of Health to give a presentation at Libya's first ever 'Development Strategy in the Health Sector Conference and Exhibition' on 5/6 th March 2012, in a push to rebuild the Libyan health care system. Experts from around the world were invited to speak at the two day conference and to collaborate with the government on projects to raise medical standards across Libya. World for Libya presented their Virtual Interactive Surgical Training Academy (VISTA) programme. The VISTA project will allow senior UK and international surgeons to share new techniques and knowledge with Libyan surgeons by interacting over this online training platform. It would involve weekly interactive video lectures, an online library of surgical techniques including visual media, discussion forums, case studies and an on-call advice service to international consultants. It was very well received by healthcare professionals at the conference. Dr. Mak Khan who is coordinating the VISTA project met with Dr. Al Mahdi Al Amin, the Deputy Minister of Health and the Head of Primary Care at the Ministry of Health in Libya, Dr. Amal Ibrahim who have both endorsed the project and would like to support World for Libya to make VISTA a reality. World for Libya is initially rolling out VISTA across three hospitals in Benghazi, Misrata and Tripoli and aims to have the project fully operational by April 2012. Dr. Khan said 'VISTA was inspired by Dr. David Nott's time working Medicine san Frontier in Misrata during the height of the conflict. It's a great honour for World for Libya to help Libyans rebuild Libya'. World for Libya is committed to empowering the Libyan people to rebuild the country through focussing on education and health and is investing in long-term projects such as VISTA  in partnership with the Libyan Ministry of Health and Libyan medical professionals to contribute to the rebuilding of the country's health care system. For more information on this or any other projects please email: enquiries@worldforlibya.org or please visit: www.worldforlibya.org /news/posts/2012/03/world-for-libya-speaks-at-libya's-first-health-strategy-conference/ /news/posts/2012/03/world-for-libya-speaks-at-libya's-first-health-strategy-conference/ Fri, 30 March 2012 10:39:00 /news/posts/2012/03/helping-people-living-with-disabilities/   The recent conflict has left thousands of people disabled and in need of prosthetic limbs. As part of a push to raise the quality of health care in Libya, World for Libya is working with local communities to support the people now living with disabilities. As such, the charity has secured a donation of 400 prosthetic socks for the victims of the recent conflict. The socks will be delivered to hospitals and rehabilitation centres in Libya, who will then give them to the people that require them most. The socks were generously donated byMedalin Limited,a leading manufacturer of prosthetic socks, arm mitts and products for all prosthetic limb wearers. The socks will go directly to patients injured during the war and will significantly improve their quality of life by ensuring that their prosthetics fit properly and are more comfortable. Helping people living with disabilities in Libya in one of World for Libya's focus areas and the charity is committed to supporting and raising awareness of the problems faced in communities throughout Libya. Please Like us on Facebook and Follow us on Twitter . For more information or if you would like to make a donation please email: enquires@worldforlibya.org .   /news/posts/2012/03/helping-people-living-with-disabilities/ /news/posts/2012/03/helping-people-living-with-disabilities/ Wed, 21 March 2012 11:27:00 /news/posts/2012/03/world-for-libya-teaches-libyan-pilots-to-speak-english/ World for Libya is teaching air ambulance pilots English as part of a push to build the country's first emergency response unit. In order for the pilots to be able to communicate and coordinate effectively within the country and with international air authorities they need to speak a common language. Upon consultation with local authorities it was decided that English was the most suitable. Prior to the revolution Libya had no air ambulances and in a country almost two million square kilometres in size this meant that people could potentially be waiting for hours before they received any medical attention. This problem became especially pressing during the revolution when there were hundreds of injured people that needed medical attention each day. World for Libya collaborated with local authorities and NATO to convert four unused military helicopters into fully functioning air ambulances. This project is being overseen by Colonel Nasr Busneina and during the conflict the air ambulances were used to the transport over 800 injured patients from the front line to hospitals in the mains cities. Since the end of the revolution and as the country's medical system evolves, these vehicles have formed the foundations of the Libyan Emergency Response Unit. The pilots are being taught by volunteer teachers from the International School of Benghazi. There are currently two classes, a beginner's class taught by Tahani Elborjo and an intermediate class taught by Aladin Salama. 'We see this as a chance to give something back to these brave men who saved so many lives during the revolution' said Tahani. World for Libya is working the local governments to educate and empower the Libyan people so that can they can find a Libyan solution to rebuilding the country. Please support us by 'Like'ing us on Facebook and 'Follow'ing us on Twitter . For more information on this or any other projects please email enquiries@worldforlibya.org   /news/posts/2012/03/world-for-libya-teaches-libyan-pilots-to-speak-english/ /news/posts/2012/03/world-for-libya-teaches-libyan-pilots-to-speak-english/ Wed, 14 March 2012 11:56:00 /news/posts/2012/03/world-for-libya-provides-training-for-libyan-surgeons/ In an effort to improve the quality of health care in Libya, World for Libya is working with both UK and Libyan surgeons to create the Virtual Interactive Surgical Training Academy (VISTA). The VISTA project will allow senior UK and international surgeons to share new techniques and knowledge with Libyan surgeons by interacting over this online training platform. VISTA is a ground breaking project that would involve weekly interactive video lectures, an online library of surgical techniques including visual media, discussion forums, case studies and an on-call advice service to international consultants. The Royal Society of Medicine in the United Kingdom, one of the oldest and most prestigious medical societies in the world have agreed to be associated with World for Libya and support VISTA. Furthermore, Dr. Mak Khan, who is coordinating the project has met with Dr. Al Mahdi Al Amin, the Deputy Minister of Health and Dr. Bader Al Shaibani, Head of Training at the Ministry of Health in Libya who have both endorsed the project and would like to support World for Libya to make VISTA a reality. World for Libya is initially rolling out VISTA across three hospitals in Benghazi, Misrata and Tripoli and aims to have the project fully operational by April 2012. Dr. Khan said 'This project is about addressing the needs of the Libyan people. We have an idea but we want Libyans to tell us what they want and we can work together to meet their needs'. The county's isolation over the last four decades has left Libyan doctors with poor relationships with the international medical community. The VISTA project aims to provide training and facilitate interaction between top level medical staff from Libya with the rest of the world. This project is the brain child of the renowned vascular surgeon Dr. David Nott, who spent time working at a field hospital in Misrata during the revolution, at the height of its siege by Gaddafi forces. Dr. Nott is now a trustee of the charity and thought up the project as a way of continuing his relationship with his new friends and passing on his knowledge to medical professionals in Libya. World for Libya is committed to providing humanitarian aid to those who need it most and is investing in long-term projects such as VISTA  in partnership with the Libyan Ministry of Health and Libyan medical professionals to contribute to the rebuilding of the countries health care system. Please support us by 'Like'ing us on Facebook and 'Follow'ing us on Twitter .  For more information on this or any other projects please email: enquiries@worldforlibya.org /news/posts/2012/03/world-for-libya-provides-training-for-libyan-surgeons/ /news/posts/2012/03/world-for-libya-provides-training-for-libyan-surgeons/ Tue, 13 March 2012 10:55:00 /news/posts/2012/02/moving-forward/ The battle against Gaddafi may be over but the war to get the country back on its feet has only just begun.  Now more than ever, the country needs international aid. The recent revolution has left the country crippled and in desperate need of rebuilding that will take years to accomplish. Despite Libya's vast oil reserves, the great majority of the people remain impoverished and the country has seen few improvements to civil, education or health infrastructure in the last 40 years. The recent conflict has seen the destruction of much of the infrastructure that had previously been in place and a considerable amount of Libya's wealth is still restricted. The rebuilding of the country will involve more than just the bricks and mortar of schools and hospitals, but also the provision of education, knowledge and skills which arises from the interaction with the international community and World for Libya is taking steps to ensure that Libya receives the support that it needs. During the revolution World for Libya worked to deliver medical aid and medicine to hospitals across Libya and Tunisia. Our volunteers provided the refugee camps in Tunisia with food, clothing, basic necessities such as toiletries and new toilets. World for Libya provided Libyan and Tunsian hospitals with 11 ambulances and an ambulance bus to deal with the enormous number of injured during the conflict. The charity recruited emergency care professionals and doctors to transport over 280 patients from the Nafusa Mountains to Tunisian hospitals. Working with NATO and local authorities World for Libya converted military helicopters into air ambulances. Which were then used to transport over 750 injured patients from the front line to hospitals in the major cities. Now that the conflict is over, they will form the basis of the emergency response within Libya. Since the revolution ended the priorities of the charity are focused on building solid foundations on which the country can be rebuilt and to this end there are a range of projects which we are implementing and currently fundraising for, such as: Virtual Integrated Surgical Training Academy (VISTA) :whichwould involve weekly interactive video lectures, an online library of surgical techniques including visual media, and 24/7 on-call advice to international consultants. Community Health Information Programme (CHIP) :This will entail mobile clinics travelling to remote areas in Libya to provide diagnostic primary care as well as basic health services and education. To achieve this, World for Libya will work with other aid organizations as well as the Ministry of Health in Libya. NGO Training Programme :Prior to the revolution there were only a handful of charities in Libya, most of which were politically motivated. World for Libya is developing a programme to help Libyans form charitable organizations. This programme has four aims; advocacy, guidance, support and collaboration. In order to achieve these goals we need your support. You can do this by donating directly to charity by visiting www.worldforlibya.org , or simply by following us on Twitter and 'Like'ing our page on Facebook. For more information please email enquires@worldforlibya.org . /news/posts/2012/02/moving-forward/ /news/posts/2012/02/moving-forward/ Tue, 07 February 2012 17:00:00 /news/posts/2012/01/dr-mak-khan-gives-vista-presentation/ On Saturday 28 th January 2012, Dr Mak Khan gave a presentation at the International School of Benghazi about the Virtual Interactive Surgical Training Academy (VISTA) on behalf of World for Libya. The presentation was delivered to an audience of 30 doctors in Benghazi in a drive to recruit Libyan doctors to join this ground breaking project. VISTA is the first project of it's kind and would involve weekly interactive video lectures, an online library of surgical techniques including visual media, case studies on interesting cases and a 24/7 on-call advice service to international consultants. The VISTA project will allow senior UK and international surgeons to share new techniques and knowledge, by interacting on a weekly basis over this online training platform. This project, in collaboration with World for Libya, is the brain child of colleagues Dr. David Knott and Dr. Mak Khan. During his time at Al Hickma and Abbad hospital in Misrata Dr. David Nott, a trustee of the charity, World for Libya was able to see first hand the effects of the ongoing revolution and the need for properly trained medical professionals. VISTA was design as a mean to he address this problem and as a strategy to deliver post conflict medical care. It was decided that the foundations of this strategy must be based on the proper medical training of Libyan Healthcare professionals. Applying the first-hand experience gained both in surgery and teaching during his time in Misrata, Dr. David Nott and Dr. Mak Khan will lead this programme, and create an electronic learning environment allowing surgeons from abroad to train Libyan doctors.  /news/posts/2012/01/dr-mak-khan-gives-vista-presentation/ /news/posts/2012/01/dr-mak-khan-gives-vista-presentation/ Mon, 30 January 2012 17:56:00 /news/posts/2012/01/world-for-libya-sponsors-conference-(1)/ World for Libya, will be sponsoring a conference hosted by the Ministry of Social Affairs in Benghazi, Libya from the 29 th to 31 st January 2012. The conference will focus on how to support the needs of the children affected by the country's recent conflict and aims to highlight these issues for both Libya and the international community.  The talks will be attended by representatives from the Libyan Ministry of Health, Ministry of Education, Ministry of Defence, Ministry of Environmental Affairs and other local and international non-governmental organisations, where delegates will discuss four main themes: 1)      The rights of the child 2)      The psychosocial effects of war on the child 3)      The role of the media in protecting children from the effects of war 4)      The role of civil society in protecting the rights of children World for Libya will be sending Dr Ilya Kovar, a consultant in Paediatrics & Perinatal Medicine to the Chelsea & Westminster Hospital in London to speak at the conference on 'Conflict, children, past and future'. With approximately 1.2 million Libyan children returning to school in Libya last month, for the first time since Libya's revolution started, the issue is becoming more pressing. Whilst this marks a significant step in the recovery of Libya's education system, there is still a long way to go and the conference attempts of identify and address some of the issues being faced. Through its bases in Tripoli, Benghazi and Misrata, World for Libya works to improve the lives of children across the country and hopes that this conference will bring them closer to achieving that goal. /news/posts/2012/01/world-for-libya-sponsors-conference-(1)/ /news/posts/2012/01/world-for-libya-sponsors-conference-(1)/ Mon, 23 January 2012 16:38:00 /news/posts/2011/12/ngo-training-conference-in-benghazi/ Since the revolution, hundreds of people have formed charities in Libya to support the country. The vast majority of these charities are small, local organisations with little to no experience or support. World for Libya, in collaboration with other organisations, aims to equip new NGOs with international expertise, skills and experience needed to run effective and ethical charities. On 28th December 2011, World for Libya representatives presented at a NGO training conference in Benghazi, hosted in the Children's Theatre at the Ministry of Social Affairs. Over 220 charities attended the event. The conference encourages coordination and collaboration between different NGOs, whilst ensuring that charities are supported in the coming months and years and given the best possible opportunity to thrive in Libya. /news/posts/2011/12/ngo-training-conference-in-benghazi/ /news/posts/2011/12/ngo-training-conference-in-benghazi/ Wed, 28 December 2011 14:11:00 /news/posts/2011/12/hol/ On December 15 th , World for Libya hosted its first House of Lords Event. Generously sponsored for by Edgo, Assaker and ESI, the event was attended by over a hundred and twenty guests, including representatives from government, businesses, charities, embassies and the media. The lunchtime event was kindly hosted by Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean, whose speech was well received. Alongside her, other speakers included World for Libya Trustees Mr Willem Baralt, Dr Faraj Ahnish and Dr David Nott, whose emotion and passion for the cause could be clearly witnessed by all those in attendance. After the speeches, guests were able to speak to the Trustees and World for Libya representatives, while mingling with other attendees. The House of Lords staff served canapés and refreshments with all those asked thoroughly enjoying their time at this event. After the success of recent events, World for Libya is planning other such activity in the near future to continue fundraising for our humanitarian effort. For information about upcoming events please keep checking worldforlibya.org and our twitter updates at www.twitter.com/world4libya   /news/posts/2011/12/hol/ /news/posts/2011/12/hol/ Fri, 16 December 2011 12:06:00 /events/posts/2011/12/12/  Trustee Willem Baralt (back centre) and host Ahmet Çalik (front centre) with other guests.   On the 10 th December 2011, Çalik Holding, Türkerler Holding and System Inşaat sponsored a charity event in Istanbul. The event was to raise funds and awareness for various charities, one of which was World for Libya. The event was hosted by Ahmet Çalik, founder and operator of Çalik Holding, and a total over 100 guests were present. Sections of the events were even filmed for Turkish television with speeches from people from both the political and charitable sphere. Trustee of World for Libya, Willem Baralt gave a speech about the work of World for Libya and the projects that are currently being undertaken by the charity. The event was a success, raising money which will allow us to carry out vital work, with all funds going directly to supporting the people of Libya. World for Libya is planning to host their own events in the near future to continue fundraising for our humanitarian effort, including a lunchtime event at the House of Lords on 15 December 2011. For information about upcoming events please keep checking worldforlibya.org and our twitter updates at www.twitter.com/world4libya /events/posts/2011/12/12/ /events/posts/2011/12/12/ Sat, 10 December 2011 12:34:00 /news/posts/2011/12/12/ Working with Colonel Naser Busneina and NATO, World for Libya has provided equipment to convert several military helicopters into air ambulances. As approximately 90% of Libya is desert, these air ambulances are now being used to save lives in remote areas across the country. In addition, because of the poor road quality and high road accident rate in Libya, air ambulance pilots are also employed in more accessible areas when it is quickest, safest and easiest to transport patients by air. In early January 2012, World for Libya will fund a programme to assist these pilots to learn English as a second language. This conscious effort to improve communication between Libyan Arabic speakers and non-Libyan Arabic speakers will enable these rescue operations to run more smoothly and also enable us to help more people in need. The pilots are being taught using the established Face2Face teaching course. It utilises an innovative approach of both text and audio, in order to assist with pronunciation, thus allowing a rapid learning curve. Alongside these English training courses, the pilots will be training in first aid and emergency services operation, thanks to the generous donations given to World for Libya. /news/posts/2011/12/12/ /news/posts/2011/12/12/ Fri, 09 December 2011 16:17:00 /events/posts/2011/11/11/                                                                                                      (The House of Lords) World for Libya is hosting a luncheon event to celebrate the freedom of the Libyan soil. It is hoped that 80 - 120 people will attend this event, including senior figures with an interest in the development of this important country and its people. We would like to thank the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean and our UK Fundraising Committee for their support and hard work in helping to arrange this event.   Event Details: Date/ 15 th December.2011 Place/ The House of Lords-Cholmondeley Room Hosted by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean     /events/posts/2011/11/11/ /events/posts/2011/11/11/ Tue, 15 November 2011 00:00:00 /news/posts/2011/11/house-of-lords-event/                                                                                                 (The House of Lords) World for Libya is hosting a luncheon event to celebrate the freedom of the Libyan soil. It is hoped that 80 - 120 people will attend this event, including senior figures with an interest in the development of this important country and its people. We would like to thank the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean and our UK Fundraising Committee for their support and hard work in helping to arrange this event.   Event Details: Date/ 15 th December.2011 Place/ The House of Lords-Cholmondeley Room Hosted by the Baroness Symons of Vernham Dean     /news/posts/2011/11/house-of-lords-event/ /news/posts/2011/11/house-of-lords-event/ Mon, 14 November 2011 17:01:00 /news/posts/2011/11/treatment-for-patients-in-jordan/   World for Libya together with its trustee, Dr Faraj Ahnish, has secured funding of US $250,000 to transport and treat Libyan patients in Jordan when they cannot be effectively treated inside the country. Dr Faraj Ahnish has been working to co-ordinate this work through World for Libya. Due to the recent fighting in Libya the healthcare system has suffered dramatically leaving it not yet able to cope with some specialist medical cases, both chronic conditions and emergency treatment for some trauma cases. These difficulties are further hindered by the overstretched personnel working in such conditions.  Help is needed to aid the treatment of civilians and fighters injured from the war in Libya. By working with Dr Faraj Ahnish, World for Libya will assist with the treatment of the patients by providing funding to the appropriate hospitals in Jordan. The World for Libya team are truly grateful for such a generous donation that in return Ali Omar Ermes painting has been given to the donor in recognition of their generous contribution.  To view Ali Omar Ermes work please see -  http://www.aliomarermes.co.uk/artworks/original-paintings/ /news/posts/2011/11/treatment-for-patients-in-jordan/ /news/posts/2011/11/treatment-for-patients-in-jordan/ Thu, 03 November 2011 17:26:00 /events/posts/2011/10/fundraising-and-influencing-event/ /events/posts/2011/10/fundraising-and-influencing-event/ /events/posts/2011/10/fundraising-and-influencing-event/ Tue, 18 October 2011 12:00:00 /news/posts/2011/10/kenmore-event/ At the weekend an annual fundraising event marking the end of the salmon fishing season in Scotland was held at the Kenmore Hotel in Perthshire, Scotland. The event raised funds for various charities, and this year one of these was World for Libya. The event was hosted by Malcolm Flinn, the owner of the Kenmore Inn and in total 104 guests attended the fundraiser including 'Hello magazine'. Highlights of the night included fireworks on Loch Tay, a delicious locally sourced four-course dinner and a charity auction. In total the event raised £150,000 which will be divided amongst the charities and an additional £40,000 was raised for specifically for the World for Libya air ambulances project. This sum will enable four helicopters to be stocked with the necessary medical equipment and converted to air ambulances. Not only are these crucial vehicles for Libya to have in times of crisis yet also, given the mountainous geography of the country and the fact that many areas are difficult to access by road, they are a key resource for the country to have in general. World for Libya is planning to host their own events in the near future to continue fundraising for our humanitarian effort. For information about upcoming events please keep checking worldforlibya.org and our twitter updates at www.twitter.com/world4libya /news/posts/2011/10/kenmore-event/ /news/posts/2011/10/kenmore-event/ Mon, 17 October 2011 11:26:00 /events/posts/2011/10/upcoming-fundraiser/ On October 15th The Kenmore Hotel in Perthshire, Scotland hosted a gala dinner and auction, in order to raise funds for various charities, one of which was World for Libya. This particular event is held annually by the hotel to celebrate the closing of the salmon season on the River Tay and at last years the 2010 event an £186,000 was raised for the different charities present. More details on the event can be found here . /events/posts/2011/10/upcoming-fundraiser/ /events/posts/2011/10/upcoming-fundraiser/ Sat, 15 October 2011 00:00:00 /news/posts/2011/10/vital-aid-delivered-in-benghazi/ World for Libya has been continuing with its humanitarian effort, delivering crucially required supplies of aid to the Teka Camp, located roughly 25km from Benghazi. Over the last few days over 1,200 IDP's (internally displaced persons) including women, children and the elderly have arrived at the camp, having left the town of Tawergha, near Misrata. World for Libya volunteer Reyam Taher was part of the team of dedicated World for Libya volunteers, based at our new Benghazi office, who delivered aid to the Teka camp. She commented that on arriving they were welcomed by the people there, however she went on to add that the dire situation in the camp quickly became evident. The latest influx of refugees has meant that the camp's population has rocketed, with supplies rapidly dwindling following this increase in demand. This is of course not a good position for the camp to be in, especially given that winter is on its way. However, the World for Libya volunteers worked hard to improve the situation, providing the refugees with clothing, water and food supplies. The effects of the conflict in Libya look set to extend well into the future. As World for Libya continually stresses, the country requires both aid in the immediacy, such as that supplies Reyam and her team have been delivering, as well as long term aid projects to secure a stable future for Libya. The situation at the Teka camp is a direct reminder that your donations to World for Libya are urgently needed so that we can honour our commitment to humanitarian relief in Libya. To make a donation to World for Libya please go to www.worldforlibya.org/donate /news/posts/2011/10/vital-aid-delivered-in-benghazi/ /news/posts/2011/10/vital-aid-delivered-in-benghazi/ Wed, 12 October 2011 13:48:00 /news/posts/2011/10/women's-rights-in-libya/ The issue of women's rights in Arabic cultures is continually brought to our attention. Just the other day the world's media was fixated upon the story of a woman named Shedda, who was sentenced to ten lashes for breaking a ban on female drivers in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The lack of rights for women is also prevalent in Libya with sexual gender violence against women a commonplace event. However this abuse which is so frequently experienced by Libyan women is blatantly overlooked. The clandestine nature of the abuse means that there are no set statistics concerning how widespread this violence is for women in Libya however cases of abuse are continually discovered. One such instance was discovered first hand by World For Libya volunteer Hana Elgadi at a refugee camp in Tunisia. Hana described meeting a woman arriving at the camp who had reached a state of desperation. She was overtly telling people about her physically abusive husband and family, and the physical effects of the violence she had had inflicted upon by her husband, and from before her marriage at the hand of her brother and father, were evident. The woman was reportedly from a region of Libya which is highly conservative in nature and almost tribal in its approach to social conduct. The woman's situation was an incredibly difficult one:  whilst it was perhaps possible to extract her from her situation, there was no way to also get her children out without harming her even more. This is because in such cases the legal system that it is the father that has dominant custody of any children in a marriage. Had the woman been isolated from the family unit she would have risked the wrath of her brother and father who she was adamant would track her down and kill her. Divorce, especially within the mountainous regions of Libya, has an enormous stigma attached to it, with female divorcees being ostracised from society. Apparently this particular woman had been verbally divorced by her husband and as a result went to live with her father and brother, who locked her in a room and starved her until her husband took her back. Whilst this story is a very extreme case it seems that in many cases women's rights are neglected in Libya. Helping women in desperate situations created by this attitude is difficult given that it has been an accepted mentality for so long.  It is not simply a case of taking these women away from their abusive partner; truly helping these women is a matter of holistic rehabilitation.  What is required is for these women to be entirely re-educated. This education needs to incorporate an awareness of the fact that these women do have rights, and how far they extend. It also needs to involve teaching these women about independence, and providing them with the information they needs to live independently in society. However, recognising the need for such projects, and addressing the issue of sexual gender violence has so far been an issue that is not openly discussed. Women are talking to other women about this however the movement is still in its infancy and very underground. Rallying support for this issue is a complex task. Hana herself who is dedicated to this cause has been liaising with feminist representatives in Tunis and Tripoli to discuss how rehabilitation projects might be implemented. A non government organisation called "Voices of Libyan Women" has been set up by two women with the intention of educating women in Libya as to their rights and basic entitlements. However campaigning for this issue is an uphill struggle. Not only is it difficult to convince people of your cause when by its nature the issue of abuse is one for which there are no set statistics and facts, at the moment there is only one female representative in the government, compared to 29 men. Obviously it is not a matter of a battle of the sexes however the poor representation of women in government is likely to be due to the rarity of Libyan women being sent abroad to study, as men often are, resulting in a restricted education and thus making them inadequately qualified for the job. The organisation is hoping, as it gains notoriety and momentum, to locate well educated women who could increase the representation of women in government. Another obstacle to tackling this issue is finding the right people to undertake this mammoth task.  Investigation of such a social taboo needs to be undertaken by those who have the ability and can be trusted to elicit accurate information. Finding Libyans who are sufficiently articulate to communicate about the subject and indeed who are willing to do so, is difficult, as many such people are often living abroad. However therearemen in Libya who are willing to talk about and address this issue, many of whom Hana herself was able to make contact with. There have also been significant steps made towards bringing this issue to the attention of the public forum. The Libyan Youth Forum supports "Voices of Libyan Women" and this is also fully supported by the NTC.  Hana has in fact been invited by Voices of Libyan Women to represent World for Libya and speak about Women's rights issues at their first conference, which is set to be attended by delegates of the EU, UN, various NGO's and some NTC members. Any moves to highlight this issue and in particular address the matter of female representation in government needs to be done swiftly given the transitional situation in the country at present.      The attitude towards women in Libya is a deep set mentality. Raising awareness of and communicating the need for this to change is a lengthy process that involves an aspect of total re-education. Many obstacles exist which inhibit this cause however they are in no way insurmountable; the movement for change may be underground and at present a whisper, however more importantly itismoving, evolving and getting louder.     /news/posts/2011/10/women's-rights-in-libya/ /news/posts/2011/10/women's-rights-in-libya/ Fri, 07 October 2011 15:48:00 /news/posts/2011/10/in-detail-wfl-trip-report/ World for Libya, although recently established, has achieved an impressive amount in this short time. Following the February uprising, the charity has worked tirelessly to contribute to the aid effort and assist the victims of the conflict. The newfound freedom of the Libyan people leaves the country stepping tentatively into a new era. A country that has been torn apart by violence, its infrastructure ruined and social systems having ground to a halt, needs rebuilding so that it can look forward to a stable and secure future.  World for Libya's pledge is simple: to provide humanitarian aid to the people of Libya. Honouring this however means addressing both short term and long term aid; assisting those in immediate need as well as committing to long term projects that will provide humanitarian aid for years to come.  However, the success of such long and short term projects lies in their research. Direct assessment of how aid has thus far been received, as well as the various projects already operating in Libya, is crucial to deciding the most beneficial action for the charity to take. It was with this important task in mind that World for Libya founders Salah Mussa and Willem Baralt travelled to numerous areas of Libya last week, visiting World for Libya volunteers as well as forging new important contacts with which we can cooperate to offer our humanitarian commitment. In fact, the initial destination of the trip was not Libya itself - instead the trustees flew from London to Tunis, here making contact with Nader El Hamessi, chief coordinator of World For Libya's aid effort in Tunis, who would accompany them for the duration of their trip.  During the conflict fleeing Libyans sought refuge and aid across the border in Tunis. In the Remada Refugee camp WFL volunteers, led by Nader, played a staggering role in providing them with urgently needed medical and food supplies, as well as installing new sanitation facilities. Willem commented that the amount achieved by the volunteers was astounding and should be source of great pride for the charity as a whole. After spending the night in Tunis, the World For Libya trustees purchased vitally needed water and baby's milk, intended for distribution across the Libyan border in Zawiya. They travelled here as part of a convoy of ambulances and during the journey witnessed the shocking results of the violence that has ensued in this area. From homes to schools to hospitals, all have been damaged during the conflict. Arriving in Zawiya, the convoy was met with a warm welcome from doctors and members of the NTC of Zawiya and had a generous lunch provided for them . The supplies of milk and water that had been purchased were distributed to the people here before Salah and Willem pressed on to the next stage of their trip, travelling 30 miles west to Tripoli. In Tripoli on Thursday 15 th September, the pair met with the Libyan Deputy Health Minister Dr Saad Akoub Abbelraazik at the Ministry of Health who has been in contact with World For Libya board member Dr. David Nott regarding medical projects in Libya. This was another opportunity for gathering information about the state of the healthcare system in Libya and planning efficient and effective aid provision.   After spending the night in the capital, the busy itinerary continued as Salah and Willem journeyed to Msallata, a city in the northwestern part of Libya , in the Murqub District. On arrival they were met by the council as well as the entire hospital when they delivered an ambulance here, fully stocked with medical equipment. They were given a tour of the hospital and its laboratory, which is in desperate need of new, up to date and fully functioning equipment, which they currently severely lack. Following lunch which was kindly provided for them at the hospital the trustees trip continued true to its eventful form when a petrol station was opened especially for them to refuel! Returning to Tripoli for another night, Sunday 18 th September saw the pair make their way to Misrata. On arrival they paid a visit to the World For Libya office and met some of the staff here, before continuing on to visit two hospitals as well as a clinic to which World For Libya had donated an ambulance. The day continued with a visit to the Red Crescent centre and culminated in a meeting at the Abad hospital with Dr.  El Fagieh, who worked closely alongside Dr.David Nott to provide medical assistance during the height of the conflict when hospitals were inundated with injured patients.     Whilst outside the hospital in Misrata the trustees coincidentally saw World For Libya's aid directly in action, when they spotted an ambulance that had been previously donate by WFL working hard delivering injured people. From Misrata Willem and Salah travelled to further east to Benghazi, where the conflict first began. Here, Salah and Willem also paid a moving visit to Martyr's Square which is recognised as the epicentre of the uprising.  Their investigation, with a view to planning future World For Libya projects, led them to visit existing projects in Benghazi. The trustees met up with Reyam Taher, who has been working with children at a Benghazi orphanage centre. Whilst here they also crucially met the woman in charge of the centre, Dr.Grada, and discussed working together in the future. As a result of seeing this centre World For Libya is now looking to raise funds for a rehabilitation centre in Benghazi that would serve as a social focal point, rebuilding not only the lives of those in the community yet also the community itself.  From the orphanage, Willem and Salah attended a meeting at the Ministry of health with Dr.Nagree in Benghazi. Here they talked about the possibility of an integrated surgical training programme proposed by WFL trustee Dr. Nott as well as the potential treatment of Libyan patients in Europe. This meeting was closely followed by a meeting with the Minister of Social Services. These meetings were crucial in order gather information concerning the transitional status of the health system in Libya, which is vital since it will determine the nature of the medical aid that World For Libya sends in the future.   Later, Willem and Salah made a visit to a prosthetics workshop - prosthetics are currently in urgent demand in Libya for amputee's who have been injured during the violence and the trustees visit here was incredibly useful with regards to future projects for the charity. A highlight of the Benghazi leg of the trip was a party to celebrate the opening of the new fully operational World For Libya office in Benghazi. Now, with the exception of the head office in London, all World For Libya offices are based within Libya in Benghazi, Tripoli and Misrata, in the best possible position to enable and oversee the provision of aid. Having spent the night in Benghazi the World For Libya representatives made their way to the airport to meet with Colonel Nasr (far right), head of the air ambulance operation that funds from a World For Libya appeal have been donated to. Here, Willem and Salah were given the opportunity to take a closer look at the potential ambulances.  The money that was generated by the World For Libya air ambulance appeal will be used to purchase medical equipment to stock one of the helicopters, thereby transforming it into an air ambulance. Such ambulances are incredibly useful, not just in times of crisis, but for years to come, especially in a country with mountainous regions such as Libya. However this was not the sole reason for their airport visit since it was from here that Salah and Willem, having had flights cancelled, managed, thanks to Nader El Hamessi's negotiation skills and contacts, to fly back to Tripoli in a military airplane!   A final night in Tripoli signalled the end of a hectic few days in Libya and from here the trustees made their way back to London, driving all the way back from Tunisia, arriving back safely at the World For Libya London Office on Wednesday. Willem commented that the trip had been one thanks to which much had been learnt and important contacts had been made, and stressed that in light of their experiences in Libya, the charity was in the best possible position to plan long term aid projects for the future which would help Libya achieve a bright, stable future.  Keep checking worldforlibya.org for information about developments on the planning of these projects and be sure to follow us on twitter ( www.twitter.com/world4libya ) for the latest updates on the charity's progress.     /news/posts/2011/10/in-detail-wfl-trip-report/ /news/posts/2011/10/in-detail-wfl-trip-report/ Wed, 05 October 2011 14:17:00 /news/posts/2011/09/trip-update,-thursday-22nd/ On Tuesday Willem and Salah were in Benghazi where they visited the hospital to view the impressive air ambulances, a project which World For Libya is looking into funding in the future (Salah and Nader El Hamessi are pictured above with one of them) From there, the final stages of their trip saw them attend a party to celebrate the opening of the new World For Libya office in Benghazi. The launch of this new operational office is incredibly exciting and marks the dawning of a new era for the charity in the wake of the conflict - now all our offices will be operating from the three key cities within Libya: Benghazi, Tripoli and Misrata. True to form the trip continued to be eventful with various connecting flights being cancelled. Luckily however on Wednesday, the two trustees managed to fly from Benghazi to Tripoli in an aircraft typically designed for military use, boasting a large cargo hold area as opposed to seats!  Having spent the night in Tripoli they are now on their journey home. Willem Baralt commented that the trip had been "extremely exciting and one in which a lot had been learnt". When Willem and Salah return to the UK they utilise the knowledge and the contacts they have gained on this trip to ensure that the work carried out by World For Libya is honed to make the biggest possible difference to those in need.      /news/posts/2011/09/trip-update,-thursday-22nd/ /news/posts/2011/09/trip-update,-thursday-22nd/ Thu, 22 September 2011 11:23:00 /news/posts/2011/09/trip-update,-tuesday/ Given the hectic schedule of the World For Libya trip, communication with the trustees has been limited - over the past few days worldforlibya.org has managed to report some of Willem and Salah's activities, however here are some additional details... On Friday, when the trustees visited the Msallata delivering a fully stocked ambulance, they were lucky enough to be received by the entire hospital and the local council. Saturday dawned and the pair travelled to Misrata for a meeting with the coordinating office for medicine. Whilst the city is reportedly in ruins, amazingly and admirably people are working incredibly hard here. The conflict has resulted in the main hospital being destroyed, putting enormous pressure upon other sites offering medical assistance. On top of this, the demand for medical aid itself is still high, since victims of the violence continue to arrive from the front line. The next day Willem and Salah visited Benghazi where they met with Dr. El Fakri, the head of Abad Hospital, and then going on to meet with the local representatives from the National Transitional Council. Yesterday they spent the day in meetings with both the disability organisation, and the local council and from 5 o clock onwards today they will be attending an exciting party to celebrate the opening of the World for Libya Bengahazi office! The trustees' are coming to the end of their trip and will fly back to the UK tomorrow - in the meantime keep checking worldforlibya.org for further updates /news/posts/2011/09/trip-update,-tuesday/ /news/posts/2011/09/trip-update,-tuesday/ Tue, 20 September 2011 10:25:00 /news/posts/2011/09/trip-update,-monday/ It has been a busy weekend for Willem and Salah as they continue to visit various different parts of Libya. On Saturday the two trustees spent the day in Misrata meeting with various hospitals and councils, laying the groundwork for World For Libya aid projects. However, the following day the pair travelled to Benghazi, discovering a situation different from the euphoric atmosphere in Tripoli. Here, casualties are still being received in substantial numbers from the front line with up to 70 injured arriving on the day that Willem and Salah were in the city. This is of course a poignant reminder that the necessity for aid in Libya is far from over. Short term aid is urgently needed to help victims of the conflict, and long term aid projects are vital if Libya is to stand any chance of recovering in the future from the tumultuous events of late. To make a donation to World for Libya and support our aid endeavours please do so on-line at www.worldforlibya.org or phone: +44 (0) 20 7182 1448 or +44 (0) 20 7182 1402 Finally, keep checking our news page for more details of the trustees trip.     /news/posts/2011/09/trip-update,-monday/ /news/posts/2011/09/trip-update,-monday/ Mon, 19 September 2011 10:32:00 /news/posts/2011/09/trip-update,-friday/ World For Libya trustees Salah Mussa and Willem Baralt have not wasted a moment since they arrived in Libya, keeping to a hectic schedule. Yesterday they met with the Libyan Deputy Health Minister Dr Saad Akoub Abbelraazik at the Ministry of Health and today they are in Msallata, delivering a World for Libya ambulance. Calling from Libya, Willem said that the trip had been extremely exciting so far, stressing his pride and admiration for the incredible work of the dedicated World for Libya volunteers out there. Salah and Willem will return to Tripoli (pictured above) tonight, before travelling to Misrata on Saturday. Keep checking www.worldforlibya.org as well as our twitter page www.twitter.com/World4Libya for updates!   /news/posts/2011/09/trip-update,-friday/ /news/posts/2011/09/trip-update,-friday/ Fri, 16 September 2011 11:54:00 /news/posts/2011/09/wfl-tunisia-team/ As the occupants of the once hugely overpopulated refugee camps of the Libyan-Tunisian border slowly return to their home towns and the post liberation euphoria subsides within Libya, World For Libya would like to take a chance to applaud the efforts of the volunteers in the Tunisian office. Since the February uprising the team of volunteers, based in the border city of Tataouine, have been working with other teams on the ground such as the German organization GRAND AID, to provide care and attention for those desperately fleeing the Libyan conflict. They have been distributing urgently required supplies of food and clothing, and have also devoted their efforts to improving sanitation facilities in the refugee camps. The violence in Libya resulted in a devastating amount of casualties. Not only did the Tunisia team receive and distribute ambulances, they worked tirelessly day and night to transport the injured and give them the medical aid and attention they required. When the holy month of Ramadan arrived the team handed out World for Libya food packages and when Eid was celebrated, the children in the Remada refugee camps were given gifts. Finally World For Libya's Tunisia team helped 6,400 Libyan children to sit their end of year school exams, providing exam papers, desks, chairs and writing equipment  that donations to the charity enabled the purchase of. Now that the intense fighting has ceased in the majority of Libya, the Tunisia office diverts its attention to the rising issues of amputees and the demand for artificial limbs, as well as finding places to live for the children who have been left orphaned. Whilst recent events in Libya signal the dawning of a new era and fresh start for the country, it is important to remember that Libyan people have been left not only physically scarred, but also mentally afflicted. The work the team has done is incredible, yet the efforts of World for Libya with regards to aid are far from over; they are only just beginning. World for Libya is in the process of relocating its central offices to operate solely out of Libya in Benghazi, Tripoli and Misrata. The rebuilding of Libya and the lives of its people will take time, dedication and perseverance; however with such an inspiring and committed team of volunteers working towards this goal, the future for Libya looks hopeful.   /news/posts/2011/09/wfl-tunisia-team/ /news/posts/2011/09/wfl-tunisia-team/ Thu, 15 September 2011 15:09:00 /news/posts/2011/09/trip-update,-wednesday/ Having flown into Tunis last night, World For Libya Trustees Salah Mussa and Willem Baralt will spend the morning there before driving to Tripoli this afternoon. Their journey to Tripoli will be in a convoy of six ambulances stocked with medical supplies as well as vitally needed supplies of baby milk and water. The ambulances will be delivered to the town of Zawiya (pictured above), 30 miles East of Tripoli. Keep checking www.worldforlibya.org for continuous updates on the progress of the trip, much more to follow!  /news/posts/2011/09/trip-update,-wednesday/ /news/posts/2011/09/trip-update,-wednesday/ Wed, 14 September 2011 10:09:00 /news/posts/2011/09/trustees-fly-to-tunis/ On September 13th, World For Libya founder Salah Mussa and trustee, Willem Baralt,  fly to Tunis and continue their journey from here on to Libya. On arrival in Tunis, they will waste no time in contributing to World for Libya's aid effort, purchasing a substantial quantity of vitally needed babies' milk, which they will transport by lorry to Zawiya. Zawiya is one of the areas of Libya that has been worst affected by the conflict and aid of this sort is desperately required here. From Zawiya, Salah and Willem will then continue their journey moving 30 miles East to the capital Tripoli. They will also visit Mslata, Misrata and finally Benghazi. Keep checking worldforlibya.org regularly for updates on their activities during the trip /news/posts/2011/09/trustees-fly-to-tunis/ /news/posts/2011/09/trustees-fly-to-tunis/ Mon, 12 September 2011 14:07:00 /news/posts/2011/09/wfl-ambulances-drive-to-tunis/ In the early hours of Thursday 8th September, four World For Libya volunteers set off from London to drive four World for Libya ambulances down to Tunis via Marseilles. The drivers met members of the fundraising committee Michael Thomas and Charles Phillpot, trustees Salah Mussa and Willem Baralt, and volunteers from the World for Libya London office, prior to their departure. Tarek Gargoum, Mohammed El-Ammari, Adel El-Tabal and Abdlftth Nagem will be taking the Eurotunnel from Folkstone to Calais, driving the ten hour trip through France from Calais to Marseilles before moving onto the final leg of the journey, a 22 hour ferry crossing from Marseilles to Tunis. The ambulances will provide much needed transportation and medical care when they finally arrive in Tunis. They will be met by dedicated World for Libya volunteer Nader El-Hamassi and will immediately be put to good use helping those in need. /news/posts/2011/09/wfl-ambulances-drive-to-tunis/ /news/posts/2011/09/wfl-ambulances-drive-to-tunis/ Thu, 08 September 2011 15:49:00 /news/posts/2011/09/oxygen-concentrators/ On Tuesday September 6th, ten oxygen concentrators were generously donated to World for Libya by Andy MacFarlane's consultancy company, Newhaven. The total value of the concentrators is around £30,000. This equipment is vitally needed in Libya given the enormous demand for medical attention. The concentrators act as an alternative to traditional oxygen cylinders which are bulky and difficult to transport. By concentrating the gas, one concentrator can take the place of multiple cylinders. This provides a reliable source of oxygen, essential for wherever anesthetics are administered and also for resuscitation. /news/posts/2011/09/oxygen-concentrators/ /news/posts/2011/09/oxygen-concentrators/ Thu, 08 September 2011 14:44:00 /news/posts/2011/09/a-new-dawn/ For Libya, the path to a fully functioning democratic government is an uncertain one. However what is certain is that the country now lies in disarray, having been torn apart by the recent events as well as decades of isolation. World for Libya believes it is now crucial to focus on rebuilding Libya. The country has been overshadowed by turmoil but now, finally, it can begin to move into the light. Securing a successful future for Libya and its people lies in the action we take now.   The answer is not to impose aid, but instead to work cohesively with Libyans in order to reach an understanding together about the most suitable aid to provide. It is simple: for aid to be truly helpful and maximally effective it needs to be carefully planned in collaboration with its recipients. Luckily, World for Libya has a team of dedicated volunteers whose work in Misrata, Benghazi, Tobruk and Tataouine affords them insight into the specific requirements of those in need. As a result we can be confident that the aid we are providing and the work that we are doing is really making a difference in establishing firm foundations from which a new Libya can thrive. Our attention needs to be directed simultaneously to both short term and long term goals. Whilst immediate medical care must of course be provided, the long term goal of the rehabilitation of those who have suffered both physically and mentally is of equal motivation to the aid effort. Furthermore the medical system as a whole must also be taken into consideration. Now is the time to lay the foundations for a solid health service in Libya which will serve and protect its community. Given our holistic view of aid, World for Libya is involved in an exciting online surgical training project that will allow Libyan doctors and surgeons to communicate with, seek the advice of, and learn from, medical professionals in the UK. Facilitating this will not only provide short term aid in a medical capacity but also ultimately achieve the important long term goal of helping Libya sustain a solid, beneficial health system. This is just one example of the carefully planned projects World for Libya is participating in; projects motivated to help Libya work towards a secure and successful future, bringing it from the darkness into the light.    /news/posts/2011/09/a-new-dawn/ /news/posts/2011/09/a-new-dawn/ Tue, 06 September 2011 14:23:00 /events/posts/2011/08/dubai-event/ To support these projects World For Libya in partnership with the Libyan Embassy are holding a charity fundraising ball to raise funds and awareness for the humanitarian issues in Libya.  The event is to be held in Dubai, at the Mina A'Salam, on Sunday the 28th of August.  For this event they are in need of generous sponsors to make the evening a success. /events/posts/2011/08/dubai-event/ /events/posts/2011/08/dubai-event/ Sun, 28 August 2011 00:00:00 /news/posts/2011/08/the-fresh-air-of-freedom/   Events in Libya have moved at an amazing speed in recent days and it would appear that this is 'the end of the beginning'. But it is essential to point out that the task of agencies such as World for Libya is definitely not at an end. As a charity, we have pledged a long term commitment to humanitarian aid in Libya, planning projects with a view to helping the country towards a secure, stable future. One of the most important facts to remember is that large areas of buildings, roads and infrastructure have been destroyed. Many thousands of refugees have lost their homes, their jobs and, in many cases, their families. UK-registered charity, World for Libya will have to help care for the wounded and for the refugees for the foreseeable future. The reason behind this is simple: the charity aims to ensure that innocent human lives won't just become part of the debris of war.  A new beginning Libya is a country where legitimate and democratic government hasn't existed for some 40 years and it would be all too easy in the jubilation and ecstasy of victory to forget about those who have suffered the most. Their pain could be swept out of sight unless they are cared for, their wounds - both emotional and physical - are repaired and they are helped to stand on their own feet once more. This is the role that World for Libya has been undertaking and will continue to do so as long as there is one person needing its help. War is a dreadful thing but war can also be the surgeon's knife. We all know it has terrible consequences, but sometimes it's necessary to remove a dictator from power by force, and to make the transition from cruelty and injustice to freedom, a new beginning and the establishment of law and order. This is exactly what is happening and the momentum for change is unstoppable. It is so enormous that for the first time in four decades, Libyans are beginning to believe in a future where prosperity is possible, where the country can build a better way of life for its young people.   Those in need Our not-for-profit charity World for Libya was established by Libyans and non-Libyans alike and operates from its head office, based in London. We are free from any political or military affiliation, our goal simply being to provide humanitarian support to Libya. The goals of the charity include: Providing medical aid Helping those with disabilities Providing counselling for victims of war Providing education for children Providing training for doctors Assisting third parties in their aid efforts However we require funds to realise such projects. Donations to WFL follow a policy of complete transparency; we are committed to documenting exactly how money is used. You can donate on-line at www.worldforlibya.org or phone: +44 (0) 20 7182 1448 or +44 (0) 20 7182 1402 /news/posts/2011/08/the-fresh-air-of-freedom/ /news/posts/2011/08/the-fresh-air-of-freedom/ Mon, 22 August 2011 14:03:00 /news/posts/2011/08/before-it's-too-late/ It's not over-dramatic to say that the lives of many of those injured in the fight for freedom and democracy in Libya are hanging in the balance simply because not enough supplies are reaching the medical staff who are attempting to care for them. All of this is on top of the work that is being done to help the condition of the 90,000 refugees that have fled from the fighting in the last few weeks. World for Libya recently raised enough funds to acquire six ambulances stocked with medical equipment which have been shipped to Libya to transport the wounded across the border into the safety of the neighbouring country, Tunisia. But that isn't the end of the story. A desperate appeal was received in London in the last few days from the World for Libya team that's actually on the ground. It read: "We are in a critical situation now that the number of injured people is increasing all the time. What started as a trickle has now become a flood and we are in very real danger of not being able to cope. "At first we take the wounded to Tataouine in Tunisia and from there they'll be transferred onwards to various hospitals and medical centres throughout the country, depending on the individual's condition. We are working non-stop to try and help them but it's becoming more difficult by the day." "The ambulances are a wonderful help but the original stock of medicines and surgical equipment that came with them is now running out. All of this costs money and we need aid urgently if we are to save lives. The condition of many of those we are trying to help is very grave." "It is no exaggeration to say our supplies are now stretched so thinly that lives are being put in danger simply through the lack of resources. We also need to be put in contact with surgeons who are based in other countries. This can be done, for example, via the Internet and is so that our doctors can access their specialist knowledge and speak to them directly for advice and help." "The wounded are coming from centres such as Zawiya, Subrata and Zwara and in the last 72 hours we are all averaging three hours sleep a night because the situation is so critical and there is so much to do. Please help before it's too late - our battle to save the wounded is just beginning and it will be going on for a long time. So much needs to be done and the pressure on the team is growing daily." Time is short and Libyans need help. For anybody interested in either volunteering or donating much-needed funds, please contact the charity World for Libya at: www.worldforlibya.org /news/posts/2011/08/before-it's-too-late/ /news/posts/2011/08/before-it's-too-late/ Fri, 19 August 2011 11:37:00 /news/posts/2011/08/injured-patients-flooding-out-of-libya/ Recent weeks saw an intensification of the on-going conflict currently consuming Libya. Reports from our World for Libya Tataouine office has communicated an overwhelming influx of injured patients crossing the Tunisian Libyan border. Mr Nader El Hamessi, head of operations at our Tataouine office, states "We are in a critical situation, the number of injured people is increasing every minute" making the need for medical equipment even more pressing. World for Libya's team of volunteers have been shuttling the injured and frail from Zawiya, Subrata, Sorman and Zwara to Tunis hospitals and clinics with only two ambulances at their disposal, as other ambulances have been sent to Misurata, Tobruk and Benghazi. According to Nader, hospitals in the mountains are severely overstretched, and his team is struggling to cope with the surge of patients flooding into Tunisia seeking medical help. "Our volunteers have been making two 10-hour round trips per day with only 3-4 hours' sleep" he explains. "We have to fit three or four patients in one ambulance, people are packed in like sardines." World for Libya is pushing the barriers and sending funds raised from events held internationally, to the hospitals in a bid to help ease the situation. Please donate and pledge your support towards the injured and sick escaping the current Libyan conflict. The Tataouine World for Libya Office is in dire need of financial assistance. Donations are critical in helping those pouring out through the Libyan Tunisian border. /news/posts/2011/08/injured-patients-flooding-out-of-libya/ /news/posts/2011/08/injured-patients-flooding-out-of-libya/ Thu, 18 August 2011 12:55:00 /news/posts/2011/08/children-are-the-future-of-libya/ No matter the circumstances of their birth, no matter what their parents do or where they come from, the simple fact is that children are the most precious resource of the human race. Mistreat a child and you start a chain reaction that can affect that child's whole future. Care for, love and educate a child and you open a door for them to step through to an exciting and worthwhile adulthood. The greater part of the tragedy of the refugees who fled from Libya has to be the suffering of their children. It has been an unmitigated disaster for them. They have been uprooted from their homes, many have been unwell or injured, some have lost part or all of their families, many suffered emotional traumas and most will have seen things no child should have to witness. Children tend to thrive best when they have continuity. Being uprooted from their normal environment, taken to a new country and having to live in a refugee camp is not the best start to life. On the other hand, many children are resilient and given a degree of normal life that includes love from their parents, shelter and regular nourishment, they can begin again. Thousands of women and children in cities such as Yafran, Zentan, Rugban and Cabao, all located in south-western Libya, had to leave their homes and their way of life to escape the violence of recent weeks. They fled across the border to the Tunisian border town of Dheiba to a refugee camp. (With around 90,000 people having fled from Libya, it is a sobering thought that all the camps hold only two percent of these refugees). In the Remada Camp, which was set up by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), there are 13 women who are pregnant. Hopefully, 13 young lives will begin safely in the camp and will be added to the many children who already live there. However, there are no gynaecologists available, and should complications arise, there are neither doctors with suitable skills, nor the necessary equipment to care for the women or their babies. Another problem faced by the families and those in charge of the camps is keeping the children's minds occupied. It's all too easy for apathy to set in, especially when the parameters of their normal, day-to-day lives have disappeared. For this reason, a major push has been made by World for Libya to organise proper education for children of school age who are living in the camps. Occupying their minds is essential and programmes are already being designed to address the educational needs of the children. World for Libya has also raised funds to pay for exam papers, desks, chairs and writing equipment for more than 6,400 students to take their end of year exams. Thanks to these efforts, normality is just beginning to return to the lives of many of the children living in the camps. However this is just the start. If you would like to volunteer or make a donation to World for Libya, please go on-line at www.worldforlibya.org   /news/posts/2011/08/children-are-the-future-of-libya/ /news/posts/2011/08/children-are-the-future-of-libya/ Tue, 16 August 2011 13:44:00 /news/posts/2011/08/the-good-neighbour/ Around the world, in all societies and at every level there are good and bad neighbours. The good neighbour is the one who, when things aren't going well for you, will take you in and care for you, without asking questions and without wanting anything in return. Libya's good neighbour is Tunisia. Refugees have existed throughout history and in many countries. In the case of Libya, cruelty, oppression and injustice have forced a great many peace-loving people to flee, giving up what was left of their homes and their way of life. Bank accounts were frozen and in many cases, salaries were stopped. They crossed the border to Tunisia in their thousands with little more than whatever they could carry on their backs, desperate, hungry and thirsty. The refugees were of all ages and from a variety of backgrounds, seeking somewhere safe to live, free from the fear of torture and abuse. They have been given aid freely, with Tunisians providing as much accommodation, medical care and food as they could to some 60,000 to 70,000 people. In addition, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) has provided assistance wherever possible. However, after weeks of caring for so many people, it's inevitable that funds are running low. Most Libyans who fled have already used up what money they brought with them and there is a very real reluctance to ask for even more help from their Tunisian hosts. This is where outside help is needed. The UK-registered charity, World for Libya, has recently acquired six ambulances stocked with medical equipment which have been shipped to Libya and Tunisia (two went to Tataouine, three to Misrata, one to Tobruk and one to Benghazi), education for young people has been put in place and World for Libya is looking at arranging counselling for those who have been left traumatised by the events back in Libya. Without the humanitarian actions of Tunisia the situation would have been infinitely worse and World For Libya would not have been able to provide as much support as they have. However the demand for aid is far from over and World For Libya's plans for provision of aid in Libya are long term. Medical facilities desperately need to be updated and a COMET programme (collective online medical educational training) has been proposed. This will help Libyan doctors who are actually on the ground to refer to a Consultant in the UK for on-line teaching in live, two-way sessions. However without donations the projects that World For Libya is proposing to provide cannot be realised. Please help in any way possible to support our humanitarian work. To volunteer or to donate please follow the links on our homepage. /news/posts/2011/08/the-good-neighbour/ /news/posts/2011/08/the-good-neighbour/ Tue, 16 August 2011 13:14:00 /news/posts/2011/07/dr-david-nott-joins-the-board-of-trustees/ World for Libya recently welcomed a new member to the board of trustees. The world renowned Laparoscopic Surgeon Dr. David Nott. David Nott specialises in surgery during conflict situations and works for the Médecins Sans Frontiѐres and the International committee of The Red Cross. In the past he has spent months at a time working in war-torn countries such as Sudan (Darfur), Afghanistan and Iraq. More recently, Dr. Nott has spent time in Libya treating the victims of the conflict. He made a speech at the World For Libya event in London on June 15 th (a video of which is available on the homepage of this website), in which he spoke of his work and experiences in Libya. /news/posts/2011/07/dr-david-nott-joins-the-board-of-trustees/ /news/posts/2011/07/dr-david-nott-joins-the-board-of-trustees/ Sun, 10 July 2011 17:41:00 /news/posts/2011/06/setting-up-shop-1/ Following a highly successful Charity Ball, World for Libya Trustees, Salah Mussa and Willem Baralt set off to Tunisia to witness firsthand the tragic effects of the current crisis in Libya. Visiting Soukra and Tawfiq Hospitals in Tunis, the trustees described what they saw as "horrific and appalling", with ward upon ward packed with patients from Misrata and Ajdabiya. Most of whom are victims of war and in dire need of prosthetic limbs. After sourcing medical suppliers through these hospitals, the trustees made their way to Tataouine near the Libyan Tunisian border, visiting the newly established World for Libya office headed by Nader El-Hamessi. Nader and his team of committed volunteers have established several projects on behalf of World for Libya in the refugee camps including; supplying toys in partnership with the U.N to children, improving the sanitary conditions of the refugee camps, facilitating the examinations of 6,400 displaced Libyan students and supplying medical aid. However, the refugees are still living in cramped conditions with poor sanitation, enduring temperatures of up to 35 degree celsius. Having liaised with other charities and established a network of contacts in Tunisia, World for Libya is set to send out the first shipment of medical equipment and ambulances to Tataounie, Tobruk, Mistrata and Benghazi. /news/posts/2011/06/setting-up-shop-1/ /news/posts/2011/06/setting-up-shop-1/ Wed, 22 June 2011 11:59:00 /news/posts/2011/06/new-sanitation-facilities/ World for Libya has improved sanitary conditions in the Tunisian refugees camps by installing toilets throughout the camps. Due to the lack of adequate sanitation in the camps, World for Libya used some of the money that was raised during the Charity Ball in London to install brand new toilets in the refugee camps in Tataouine, Tunisia. The current conflict in Libya has displaced hundreds of thousands of people who have left their home and everything they own to escape the violence between the Gadaffi's forces and the Rebels. In an effort to improve the living conditions and based on the success of installing new showers in the camps, the trustees decided that improving other aspects of sanitation was important. /news/posts/2011/06/new-sanitation-facilities/ /news/posts/2011/06/new-sanitation-facilities/ Fri, 17 June 2011 15:41:00 /events/posts/2011/06/inaugural-charity-ball/ World for Libya held its first ever event to raise money to provide humanitarian aid in Libya, at the Four Seasons Hotel, in Mayfair, London. Over 300 guests attended the event and we raised over £300,000. There were several guest speakers who spoke at the event including Dr. David Nott, a renowned surgeon, who spoke of his work and experiences in Misurata Hospitals operating on victims of the current crisis in Libya. The event also featured entertainment from Maz Jobrani of the "Axis of Evil" Comedy group. The money raised was generated through a charity auction in which several items were sold including a ring which was sold for £22,000 and resold for a further £20,000 thanks to the original buyer's generosity. We ended the event by asking the audience to pledge money for the various project World for Libya involved in, such as; providing hospitals with ambulances, buying old military helicopters and turning them into "air ambulances" ,wheelchairs and basic medical supplies. The audience response was fantastic, with over £100,000 of pledges made. /events/posts/2011/06/inaugural-charity-ball/ /events/posts/2011/06/inaugural-charity-ball/ Wed, 15 June 2011 16:08:00 /news/posts/2011/06/charity-ball-1/ On the 15th of June 2011, World for Libya held its first ever event to raise money to provide humanitarian aid in Libya, at the Four Seasons Hotel in Mayfair, London. It was a sell out event with over 300 guests attendeding and over £300,000 was raised for the charity. There were several guest speakers who spoke at the event including Dr. David Nott, a renowned surgeon, who spoke of his work and experience working at hospitals in Misrata during the time of the seige. He was operating on the victims of the current crisis in Libya. The event also featured entertainment from the world famous comedian Maz Jobrani of the "Axis of Evil" Comedy group. The money raised was generated through a charity auction in which several items were sold including a ring which was sold for £22,000 and resold for a further £20,000 thanks to the original buyer's generosity. We ended the event by asking the audience to pledge money for the various project World for Libya involved in, such as; providing hospitals with ambulances, buying old military helicopters and turning them into "air ambulances", wheelchairs and basic medical supplies. The audience response was fantastic, with over £100,000 of pledges made.  /news/posts/2011/06/charity-ball-1/ /news/posts/2011/06/charity-ball-1/ Wed, 15 June 2011 15:34:00 /news/posts/2011/05/tataouine-office-distributing-medicines/ The current healthcare system in Libya has been pushed beyond breaking point. Many hospitals, clinics and ambulances have been destroyed. This is compounded by decades of under-investment in, and mismanagement of, the health care system. The uprising has resulted in an urgent need for doctors on the ground to treat patients. It has also led to overcrowded hospitals, unhygienic and dangerous conditions and a severe shortage of medicine and supplies. Many hospitals and clinics are struggling to provide medical services solely for logistical reasons.   Hospitals in Libya are not equipped or prepared to deal with a number of conditions for which doctors and medical supplies are sought. World for Libya, working closely with donors and specialists in the delivery of medical and humanitarian aid to those in need of aid, aims to provide support to affected communities. Working with partners, World for Libya intends to coordinate the logistics and negotiate delivery of aid to its destination. The World for Libya charity intends to continue providing medical teams and supplies and humanitarian aid after the restoration of security to Libyan cities. World for Libya, with its refrigerated medical truck is distributing medicine to local hospitals to be used for the refugees and injured victims that are constantly being transported across the Libyan border to Tunisia.   /news/posts/2011/05/tataouine-office-distributing-medicines/ /news/posts/2011/05/tataouine-office-distributing-medicines/ Wed, 25 May 2011 15:37:00 /news/posts/2011/05/openning-up-the-tataouine-office/ World for Libya opened up its first office in Tatouine, Tunisia to assist with the huge influx of Libyan refugees across the border into Tunisia. The office is working with a host of different charities and using their in depth knowledge of the situation on the ground to assist as many people as possible. Our team, through their knowledge and understanding of local Libyans has amassed a database of over 90,000 refugees and growing. This database gives us the ages, the needs, the whereabouts of the neediest refugees in the area. The team in Tataouine work hard to coordinate and execute the various projects to help the most needy and most desperate. So far, they have worked to distribute food, clothing, provide shelter and improve sanitary conditions in the various refugee camps that they work in.  For more information please visit their Facebook page here .   /news/posts/2011/05/openning-up-the-tataouine-office/ /news/posts/2011/05/openning-up-the-tataouine-office/ Fri, 20 May 2011 15:30:00 /news/posts/2011/05/sanitation-project/ /news/posts/2011/05/sanitation-project/ /news/posts/2011/05/sanitation-project/ Tue, 17 May 2011 15:39:00 /news/posts/2011/05/the-creation-of-world-for-libya/ After a few months of crisis several interested parties, both Libyan and non-Libyan, came together to create a UK charity with a long term commitment to humanitarian aid in Libya. Their goal was to provide humanitarian relief both directly and through third party charities to the victims of the February 2011 uprising in Libya. They set out to find people with experience in the charity sector to help them set up the correct framework from a corporate and accounting perspective. World for Libya was created and has now been registered with the UK Charities Commission to create the highest standard of operations in the charitable world. We aim to achieve this by focusing on the following core principles: Corporate Governance - High level oversight by a board of trustees which includes the specialists with long standing careers in Law, Finance and Medicine. Transparency - World for Libya will publish all its activities on its website. Accountability - All accounts of World for Libya will be audited by a world class accounting firm. Efficiency - The majority of our cost base is donated and we are staffed by volunteers. This allows for virtually all our funding to go to the needy.  /news/posts/2011/05/the-creation-of-world-for-libya/ /news/posts/2011/05/the-creation-of-world-for-libya/ Thu, 12 May 2011 12:01:00