Misrata, 3/September/2020 –    Through the Stabilization Facility for Libya (SFL), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) delivered 10,700 COVID-19 test kits to the National Center for Disease Control (NCDC) that arrived at Misrata shipped by the UNDP Central Procurement Unit. This is the second batch of a series of equipment that UNDP, as part of the UN response to COVID-19, is providing to the Ministry of Health (MoH) and NCDC to help national authorities contain the pandemic. The first batch of 4,300 cartridges was delivered earlier in July. Making the total number of tests delivered 15,000 tests.

The emergency response comes at a time where Libya is experiencing a rapid increase of people acquiring the virus. With these cartridges, the MoH and NCDC will be able to expand their capacities of testing and level up their coronavirus response. Led by national and local institutions and implemented by UNDP with support from 13 international partners and the Government of Libya through the Ministry of Planning, SFL adjusted its work to help Libya in its response to the pandemic, while continue to deliver projects in all regions to support the country on its way to sustainable development.

Dr. Khaled Al-Shteiwi, Director of the National Center for Disease Control, Misrata Branch, said, “Libya is now going through a difficult period trying to limit the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic, as the number of affected people exceeds 15,000, and we are in dire need of assistance, especially in terms of obtaining the sufficient quantity of test samples so that we can reach and confirm the largest possible number of people. This pack of test kits will definitely make a difference to tackle the virus in Libya.”

UNDP Resident Representative in Libya, Mr. Gerardo Noto, declared: “Serving people in Libya is our main priority at UNDP. Now, while continue delivering our projects to support national and local institutions to provide access to basic services, we have as well realigned our support to meet emerging needs imposed by the coronavirus pandemic. These test kits will help authorities to cope with the healthcare demands that the coronavirus may impose. We are committed to continuing to support their response to COVID-19.”

As part of its global mission, the UN system is supporting countries to act immediately to prepare, respond, and recover from the pandemic. In Libya, UNDP is helping national and local institutions through each stage, with a focus on the most vulnerable as part of its work to achieve the sustainable development goals to eradicate poverty, reduce inequalities and build resilience to crises and shocks.

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