Libya

The Head of the United Nations Mission in the Central African Republic, Mankeur Ndiaye, condemned as unacceptable an attack on blue helmets in the city of Grimari, which killed a member of the Burundian contingent, as peacekeepers were trying to stop an assault by armed members of an anti-Balaka group.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the designation of Stephanie Turco Williams of the United States as his Acting Special Representative and Head of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).

United Nations agencies and their partners launched an appeal today for $877 million to help some 855,000 Rohingya refugees from Myanmar who are in Bangladesh, as well as more than 444,000 vulnerable Bangladeshis in communities generously hosting those refugees.  More than half will fund vital services.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) is appealing for calm and an easing of tensions on Turkey’s borders with the European Union, following a recent increase in movements of people.  Groups arriving at Turkey’s borders have included Syrians, Afghans, Iranians, Sudanese and other nationalities.

The following statement was issued today by the Spokesman for UN Secretary-General António Guterres:

On 25 February 2020, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011) concerning Libya enacted the amendments specified in the entries below on its List (the Libya Sanctions List) of individuals and entities subject to the assets freeze and travel ban set out in paragraphs 15 and/or 17 of Security Council resolution 1970 (2011) and/or paragraph 19 of resolution 1973 (2011), adopted under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations.

Today, a Commission convened by the World Health Organization, United Nations Children’s Fund and The Lancet said that no single country is adequately protecting children’s health or their environment to ensure a healthy future, warning that climate change and processed food intake are set to reverse child health gains.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees today said it is deeply saddened by reports of the deaths of at least 20 people during a stampede for food and cash in Niger’s Diffa region on Sunday.  The number of victims could rise as more information is received.

The Security Council endorsed the conclusions of the 19 January Berlin Conference on Libya today, emphasizing the vital importance of progress towards a political solution to end the conflict in that country.

The United Nations Development Programme will tomorrow launch “Mission 1.5”, a climate change engagement campaign that will connect global citizens with Governments and policymakers.  Built around an online video game on climate policy, it provides a platform for voting on solutions they wish to see happen.