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Tripoli, July 2025 â Libyaâs deteriorating healthcare infrastructure has reached a breaking point, forcing families to seek medical care abroad through perilous migration routes. The case of 7-year-old Sohan Aboulsoud, who suffers from cystic fibrosis, has become emblematic of the crisis. Her family undertook an illicit sea journey to Italy on 25 June, after exhausting all domestic options for treatment.
đĽ A System in Disrepair
Since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011 and the subsequent political split in 2014, Libya has been governed by rival administrations in Tripoli and Tobruk, undermining national cohesion and public services. A World Health Organization report found that in Libyaâs southern and eastern regions, one-third of health facilities were non-functional, and up to 73% were only partially operational.
Sohanâs mother, Khawla Nail, told DW:
âI submitted her file to the Libyan health authorities more than once but the response was always, there’s no budget. We exhausted every option for help in Libyaâ.
For seven years, the family relied on private labs in Tunisia and imported medication, a costly and unsustainable solution. More than 60 families have formally requested cystic fibrosis treatment from Libyaâs Ministry of Health, according to documents obtained by DW.
đ¨ Desperation and Dangerous Journeys
Sohanâs family joined other Libyan families aboard an overcrowded smugglerâs boat bound for Lampedusa, Italy. âWe didnât leave because we wanted to migrate, it was because illness doesnât wait,â Nail explained.
The International Organization for Migration estimates that over 63,000 migrants have died or gone missing in the Mediterranean since 2014, with actual figures likely higher due to incomplete data.
Upon arrival, Sohan was housed in a shelter lacking air conditioningâan immediate risk given her condition. Her mother warned that even minor dehydration could trigger a medical emergency.
đŁď¸ Government Response: Symbolic, Not Systemic
Following viral images of Sohan on the boat, Libyaâs Government of National Unity (GNU) pledged to cover her treatment costs in Italy. However, Nail reported that after one initial contact, no further action was taken.
Human rights advocate Tarik Lamloum criticized the governmentâs reactive stance:
âThe GNU reaction didnât come out of a sustained sense of responsibility. It was due to the social media furoreâ.
He also expressed concern that Sohanâs story might encourage other families to attempt similar journeys, rather than prompting systemic reform.
đ Regional Fallout and Rising Hostility
The aftermath of Muammar Gaddafiâs 2011 ouster continues to destabilize Libya, with cascading effects reverberating across North and Sub-Saharan Africa. The breakdown of public institutions, worsening economic hardship, and lawlessness have fueled domestic unrest and anti-migrant sentiment, resulting in growing hostility toward African migrants and even between Libyan communities themselves.
As public services collapse and migration pressure intensifies, the social fabric is fraying. Instances like Sohanâs case illustrate not only the failures of the healthcare system but also the broader humanitarian and governance crisis gripping the country.
Whether Libya can return to its former stability remains uncertain. However, sustained regional coordinationâespecially among Middle Eastern nationsâwill be essential in helping curb the country’s ongoing decline and in supporting its path toward recovery and dignity for all its citizens.
Sources
- DW: Libyaâs broken healthcare system drives locals to migrate
- Islam Alatrash reporting for DW; Jennifer Holleis contributed to the report