Long before the crises that followed 2011, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) had already built a long and sometimes difficult history of humanitarian engagement in Libya and across its borders.

One important chapter began during the Libya–Chad conflict, which lasted from 1978 to 1987. The conflict was shaped by territorial dispute, military confrontation and shifting regional alliances. But for the families affected, its consequences were much more immediate: separation, uncertainty, detention, injury, displacement and, for many, years of not knowing whether a loved one was alive.

ICRC delegates visited prisoners of war held in connection with the conflict. Where access was granted, delegates spoke privately with detainees, observed conditions of detention, registered information and raised humanitarian concerns confidentially with the authorities concerned.

In 1986, more than 660 prisoners of war were visited. Each visit had a simple but essential purpose: to help preserve dignity in places where people are especially vulnerable to losing it.

The ICRC’s role was not limited to visits. When releases took place, it often helped facilitate safe repatriation, supported communication with families and sought to confirm that individuals had returned home.

Even before the conflict intensified, the foundations for humanitarian dialogue were being developed.
Libya’s accession to the 1977 Additional Protocols to the Geneva Conventions formed part of this broader engagement with international humanitarian law. 

In 1979, a seminar in Tripoli, organized with theLibyan Red Crescent, brought together practitioners and officials to discuss the rules of war and the protection of civilians.

In 1980, ICRC President Alexandre Hay visited Tripoli and met with senior Libyan officials. These discussions helped maintain a channel for humanitarian dialogue at a time when such channels were essential for access to people affected by the conflict.

That same year, Libya made an early contribution to the ICRC, including a significant donation in support of humanitarian action beyond its borders.

In 1983, a new humanitarian lifeline took shape in southern Libya.

With the agreement of the authorities, the ICRC established a logistics base in Sabha. From there, humanitarian assistance was channeled toward northern Chad, including medical supplies, relief items and other essential support for communities affected by the conflict.

The location mattered. Sabha allowed the ICRC to reach areas that were otherwise difficult to access and to support people who had been cut off from hospitals, markets and basic services.

From this base, assistance reached people whose needs were often far from public attention but immediate and severe.

Throughout the conflict, the ICRC relied on one of its core working methods: confidentiality.
Concerns about detainee treatment were generally raised privately, not publicly. 

This was not indifference, nor was it silence. It was a deliberate humanitarian approach intended to preserve access, maintain dialogue with all parties and allow sensitive issues to be addressed directly with those responsible.

This approach did not guarantee success. It required patience, persistence and trust. It also required the ICRC to continue engaging even when progress was slow or incomplete.

The message remained consistent: all detainees must be treated humanely, families have the right to know the fate of their loved ones, and the rules of war continue to apply even in the most difficult circumstances.

Not all efforts succeeded.

Despite sustained engagement, the ICRC was at times denied access to Libyan prisoners held in Chad after active hostilities had ended. In some cases, private interviews were restricted, and transfers took place without ICRC oversight.

These limitations mattered. Without full access, the ICRC could not always carry out its work according to its standard procedures or provide the same level of protection and follow-up to detainees and their families.

Even under these constraints, engagement continued. The ICRC kept dialogue open and continued to raise humanitarian concerns with the relevant authorities.

This is also part of humanitarian work, which is built not only on what can be immediately achieved, but also on the effort to continue engaging when access is incomplete, sensitive or contested.

The Libya–Chad conflict did not define the ICRC’s relationship with Libya, Chad or the region. But it did become part of a longer humanitarian history in the region.

During those years, channels of dialogue were opened, practical cooperation was built, and difficult conversations took place around detention, family contact, repatriation, medical evacuation and respect for international humanitarian law.

The experience also showed the importance of working across borders, maintaining contact with all sides and keeping people at the center of humanitarian action, even when political and military realities are complex.

Long before 2011, and before the crises that followed, there were already quiet and sustained humanitarian efforts shaping the ICRC’s work in Libya and the wider region.

Even in war, people who are detained must be treated humanely and with respect for their dignity. International humanitarian law sets clear rules for their protection - covering their treatment, conditions of detention and contact with their families. The ICRC visits people in detention to ensure these rights are respected. During visits, our delegates speak privately with detainees, assess conditions and share confidential recommendations with the authorities. Our goal is simple: to make sure humanity is upheld, everywhere.