Libya

Briefing the Security Council today on Syria, the Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs expressed concern at the escalation of fighting in the country’s north-west.  She said that, on 6 May, Government forces began ground offensives there, and, as of 15 May, they seized many towns in Hama.

The use of explosive weapons in populated areas of Libya’s capital, Tripoli, continues to cause civilian casualties, with at least six killed and five others injured in an apparent air strike in Qasr bin Ghashir on Tuesday, according to staff of the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

In Sudan, the African Union-United Nation Hybrid Operation in Darfur (UNAMID) condemned an incident that took place on 14 May in its El Geneina camp, when a crowd forcefully entered, looting Organization property and contingent-owned equipment, vandalizing premises and putting lives of staff and personnel at risk.

As of yesterday, some 1,705 probable and confirmed cases of Ebola have been recorded in the Democratic Republic of the Congo since the outbreak was declared on 1 August 2018, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reports.  About 1,122 people, or two thirds of reported cases, have died since then.

The first day for redeploying Ansar Allah forces from Yemen’s three ports of Hodeidah, Salif and Ras-Issa went according to established plans on Saturday, Lieutenant General Michael Lollesgaard, Chair of the Redeployment Coordination Committee, said yesterday.  Formal verification is expected on Tuesday.

UNICEF reports that 894 children — including 106 girls — were released today from the ranks of the Civilian Joint Task Force, a local militia that helps the Nigerian security forces in the fight against insurgency in the country’s north‑east.  UNICEF says more than 3,500 children were recruited between 2013 and 2017.

The World Food Programme says it reached 10.6 million people with emergency food assistance across Yemen in March – more than in any other month.  An estimated 10 million people in the country are one step away from famine, and the United Nations and partners are doing everything to help them and roll back the risk.

Relief organizations in Mozambique are working to contain a cholera outbreak in the north of the country after water sources were contaminated and health clinics damaged by Cyclone Kenneth, according to the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

With clashes continuing across Libya amid persisting impunity for war crimes, urgent action is needed to end the hostilities and ensure a return to negotiations on restoring peace and justice, the International Criminal Court’s Chief Prosecutor told the Security Council today.

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) launched a report today saying that the demand for sand has led to pollution, flooding, drought, beach erosion and reduced deposits in river deltas.  With global demands at 40-50 billion tonnes a year, UNEP warned that sand is being used faster than it can be replenished.