Triploi, Dec 3 (IANS): The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said that it started a three-day distribution of core relief items to thousands of internally displaced Libyans.

"Today IOM started a three-day distribution of core relief item to 3,250 internally displaced Libyans in Daraj and Awal in Nalut mantika, west of Libya," Xinhua news agency quoted the organization as saying in a statement on Wednesday.

"These families have been displace since 2011 from Ghadamis, Tawerga and Tripoli.

"With the prevailing Covid-19 pandemic and the current winter seasons, items include blankets, mattresses, tarpaulins and hygiene kits," the statement said.

The assistance is provided in response to a request from the Ministry of Internally Displace Persons and the Head of the Crisis Committee, it said.

According to the UN Refugee Agency, there are currently 392,241 internally displaced Libyans.

Libya has been suffering escalating violence and conflict ever since the NATO-led coalition forces toppled the country's late leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.