New public park opens for families in Sebha

October 2, 2019

Children enjoy the open air space at the Central Park in Sebha. Photo: ©UNDP Libya/ Fathiya Elazomi

With support from the European Union (EU), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) handed over to the Municipality of Sebha the central park of the city completely renovated.

Located at the heart of Sebha, the open-air space, is one of the few in Sebha, and it allows families and children to enjoy nature and to practice sport.

Municipal Council, elders and sages of Sebha, and civil society representative attended the ceremony.

“Access to well-maintained public spaces help to improve people’s physical and mental health and promote peace and cultural engagement. The maintenance of this park was part of the municipal council’s plan to promote peace in the community and I am very happy to see the results, said a member of the Municipal Council, Mr Mohamed Gomaa.

On his part, Mayor of Almahdia Local Council, Mr. Ali Mohamed stated: “The park is very important for Sebha and cities around. I look forward to see the continuation of these kind of projects to stablish more gardens because such acts represent a real outlet for the population after the conflict.”

A woman displaced from Murzuq, Ms. Zainab Al Arabi, who attended the event, declared: “I loved it. It is very near to the camp. I can bring my kids every day so they can play and forget all about the war.”

Mr. Ahmed Naser, father of two, said: “I came today here with my kids so they can play with other children. They met new friends and they said they want to play here every day.”

The renovation of this public park in Sebha is one of the initiatives undertaken in the city by “Strengthening Local Capacities for Resilience and Recovery” project, funded by the EU and implemented by UNDP in partnership with the Ministry of Local Governance and Tripoli, Sabratha, Sebha, Murzuq, Benghazi and AlKufra municipalities. The objective of the project is to help local authorities to restore security, essential services delivery and livelihoods opportunities. Through this initiative, in Sebha, UNDP is also working with the water and sanitation company to repair the main sewer line.

For more information please contact: media.ly@undp.org 

This project is implemented in the framework of the €90 million programme "Managing mixed migration flows in Libya through expanding protection space and supporting local socioeconomic development" financed by the North of Africa Window of the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa. The main objective of this programme is to comprehensively reinforce protection and resilience of migrants, refugees and host communities in Libya while supporting an improved migration management along the migration routes in the country.