Libyan family risks migrant crossing to access medical care

It’s often assumed that those boarding migrant boats from Libya to Europe are fleeing war or poverty. But, according to Deutsche Welle (DW), an overlooked group making this dangerous journey includes families desperate to secure medical treatment for their children.

Ever since the 2011 civil war, Libya’s healthcare system remains in crisis. A 2021 World Health Organization report found that nearly a third of medical facilities in the country’s east and south were non-functional, while many others operated only partially. As a result, many Libyans have little choice but to seek treatment abroad.

Khawla Nail, the mother of seven-year-old Sohan Aboulsoud who has cystic fibrosis, shared her struggle with DW.

“I submitted her case multiple times to the Libyan health authorities, but the answer was always the same: no budget,” she said. “Costs were high, the process was complicated, and we had nowhere to turn. I watched my daughter’s condition worsen before my eyes. We tried everything in Libya.”

More than 60 families with children suffering from cystic fibrosis have reportedly sought government help without success.

Out of options, Nail boarded a migrant boat with her daughter to reach Italy for treatment. When her story went viral, Libya’s Tripoli-based government pledged to cover Sohan’s medical expenses in Italy. But Nail says the promise was empty.

“They called us once and then nothing. No one has followed up and no real action has been taken,” she told DW.

Tarik Lamloum, head of the Libyan human rights group Belad, told DW he was not surprised.

“After her story spread, another family contacted me asking about the journey and whether it was possible to do the same,” he said. “Instead of celebrating a desperate sea crossing, the state should have ensured families could get care at home.”