UN warning over Libya

MORE EFFORT NEEDED TO CONTROL SITUATION

Ghassan Salame, the United Nations special envoy for the country, made the warning to the UN Security Council (UNSC) via video from the Libyan capital Tripoli.

The envoy was updating the UNSC on the current situation in Libya and progress in implementing the UN Action Plan, unveiled during the General Assembly’s session in September 2017, to support the country’s recovery.

“In the first months of this year, Libya enjoyed relative quiet from military actions,” Salame said, highlighting that the number of civilians killed by military action was down to four in March and five in April.

“Regrettably, the last two months have been marked by military actions and violent developments,” he added, noting that this had exposed “frustrations with regards to the distribution of wealth and the endemic plundering of resources” across the country.

“Concerns remain over human rights abuses, including summary executions and extra-judiciary arrests,” he added.

He reiterated the call for “all parties to the conflict to fully respect international humanitarian law, including by taking all feasible precautions to protect civilians”.

Since armed conflict erupted in Libya in 2011, close to 200 000 have been internally displaced. – ANA