Libya

Jamie McGoldrick, Humanitarian Coordinator for the occupied Palestinian territory, called today for urgent funding to restore depleted supplies of emergency fuel for essential services in the Gaza Strip.  Within a week, Al Aqsa Hospital in the Middle Area of the Gaza Strip may have to shut down, and, without fuel, some 300,000 people will potentially be affected by serious public health concerns.

A fragile peace is in place in Libya following the recent outbreak of violence in Tripoli and the brokering of a ceasefire agreement, the senior United Nations official in that country said today while briefing the Security Council.

Virginia Gamba, the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Children and Armed Conflict, will be conducting her first-ever mission in South Sudan between 4 and 8 September.  She intends to take stock of progress and challenges in the implementation of action plans to end and prevent grave violations against children.

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

On 23 August 2018, the Security Council Committee established pursuant to resolution 1970 (2011) concerning Libya held informal consultations to consider the final report of its Panel of Experts, submitted pursuant to paragraph 14 of resolution 2362 (2017).

The following Security Council press statement was issued today by Council President Olof Skoog (Sweden):

The status quo in Libya cannot be sustained, said the top United Nations official in that country today, warning about the potential threat of economic collapse, the breakdown of public services and more frequent and intense outbreaks of violence.

The United Nations deployed needs assessments and inter‑agency convoys to areas in Syria that recently changed control.  Yesterday, a team from the Organization, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent and the International Committee of the Red Cross delivered food assistance to 15,000 people in Nassib and Um Elmayathen in Dara’a Governorate.

United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres announced today the appointment of Stephanie T. Williams of the United States as his Deputy Special Representative for Political Affairs in Libya, United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).

As hostilities escalate in southern Syria, civilian deaths continue to be reported and up to 66,000 people have now been displaced.  Many who fled towards the Jordanian border remain stranded in the desert with little access to humanitarian help.  Planned aid convoys will proceed as soon as the security situation allows.