Why Libya’s Crumbling Healthcare System is Forcing Residents to Seek a Better Life Abroad – Insights from DW (07/06/2025)

Libya’s healthcare system is in chaos, and it’s hitting families hard. Take the story of 7-year-old Sohan Aboulsoud, for example. She has cystic fibrosis, a serious genetic condition. Her family couldn’t find the treatment she needed in Libya. So, on June 25, they embarked on a risky boat journey to Italy, hoping to find help.

Sohan’s mother, Khawla Nail, shared a heartbreaking photo of her daughter on a smuggler’s boat. It quickly went viral, capturing attention far and wide. The image led to a protest in Tripoli, where parents of other children with cystic fibrosis demanded better access to medication and healthcare services.

Since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has struggled with political instability. The country is divided between rival governments, one in the west and another in the east. This instability has crippled the healthcare system. A report from the World Health Organization in December 2021 revealed that one-third of healthcare facilities in the south and east weren’t functional.

Sohan’s family has been forced to pay for lab tests and medication in Tunisia. Khawla shared her frustrations, stating, “I submitted her file to health authorities multiple times. They always said there’s no budget.” Like many families, they exhausted every option for help.

Over 60 families have requested cystic fibrosis treatment from the Libyan Ministry of Health, but many find themselves in the same position as Sohan. Mahmoud Abu Dabbous from the National Organization for Organ Donation Support has seen similar stories. He noted, “This reflects Libya’s failure to meet basic health needs.”

Around ten days before reaching Lampedusa, Sohan’s family boarded a crowded boat with others. “We didn’t want to migrate; we were desperate for treatment,” Khawla explained. Unfortunately, many migrants do not succeed in their journeys. The International Organization for Migration reports over 63,000 have died or gone missing since 2014.

On arriving in Italy, the family was placed in a shelter without air conditioning. Sohan’s condition requires careful management of heat and hydration. In response to the viral nature of Sohan’s story, the Libyan Government of National Unity announced it would cover her treatment costs but has since failed to follow through.

Tarik Lamloum from the Libyan human rights group Beladi voiced his concerns, suggesting that the government’s response was more about public image than genuine care. He worries Sohan’s story might inspire others to take similar risks, emphasizing the need for proper care available within Libya itself.

This ongoing healthcare crisis isn’t just Sohan’s story; it’s a reflection of the plight faced by many families in Libya. The hope is for more than empty promises; families deserve real solutions for their healthcare needs. For more on this issue, read the World Health Organization’s report on Libya’s healthcare system.



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