Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesperson for the Secretary-General.
Highlights:
– Libya
– Syria
– DR Congo
– Chad
– South Sudan
– Burundi
– Oceans
– Senior Appointment
– Briefing Guest Tomorrow
LIBYA
The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said that it is encouraged by recent calls on the part of Libyan leaders for the resumption of talks with an aim towards ending the fighting and division. This can pave the way for a comprehensive political solution based on the Libyan Political Agreement and within the framework of the Berlin Conference Conclusions, UN Security Council Resolution 2510, and other relevant resolutions.
In order for talks to resume in earnest however, the Mission said, the guns must be silenced. In that light, the Mission welcomes the calls by international and regional actors in recent days for an immediate cessation of hostilities in Libya.
The Mission calls on the Libyan parties to engage swiftly and constructively in the 5+5 Joint Military Commission talks in order to reach a lasting ceasefire agreement. The 5+5 talks must be accompanied by firm implementation of and respect for the recently renewed UN Arms Embargo on Libya.
The Mission remains alarmed by the harm inflicted on civilian population by the continuing cycle of violence. The recent military movements in Greater Tripoli and in Tarhouna have led to new waves of displacement and suffering of over 16,000 Libyans in just the past few days.
The Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said that about 18,500 people have been newly displaced this past weekend from Tarhouna and Sirte following the takeover of Tarhouna by the forces aligned with Libya’s Government of National Accord, and in anticipation of further advances on Sirte.
SYRIA
The UN is increasingly concerned about rapidly rising food prices in Syria, where more than 11 million women, children and men urgently need humanitarian assistance. Prices have more than doubled in the last year, rising by 133 per cent across the country. According to the World Food Programme (WFP), 9.3 million people across Syria are food insecure. Food prices have continued to soar. In May, the cost of a standard food basket increased by 11 per cent on average compared to April.
Idlib was the worst impacted governorate, with the highest food prices recorded across all of Syria. The food basket in Idlib registered a 30 per cent increase in food prices in just one month. And at the same time, COVID-19 preventive measures are affecting families’ access to incomes. According to the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), agriculture and livestock production has been impacted threatening food security across Syria.
In the face of these increasing needs, humanitarian operations, including food assistance from WFP, are addressing needs on a massive scale. Each month, lifesaving food is distributed to 4.5 million people across Syria’s 14 governates.
Full Highlights: https://www.un.org/sg/en/content/noon-briefing-highlight?date%5Bvalue%5D%5Bdate%5D=08%20June%202020
