Libya: Health Sector Bulletin (July 2020) – Libya

KEY ISSUES

Expect the relocation of military control lines from LNA / Benghazi to GNA / Tripoli.

The humanitarian situation is defined by the Libyan authorities as serious and aggravated by COVID-19.

It had reported a serious lack of capabilities in the south to handle the COVID-19 response.

The list of specific recommendations in the South has been compiled.

The health sector action plan for Sirt and relocation areas has been prepared.

43 PHC public facilities and 26 public hospitals are supported with supplies and services.

V EXERCISE OF THE SITUATION

The security situation in Libya continued to become increasingly tense. This is especially noticeable in the front lines of the oil crescent and around the city of Sirte, where there is a constant activity of mobilizing forces, movements of military convoys and building heavy equipment from both sides. Despite escalating reinforcements, there were no significant reports of armed confrontations.

Political instability, armed conflict and weakening of institutional structures. More than 400,000 displaced and 654,000 migrants and refugees. Expect the relocation of military control lines from LNA / Benghazi to GNA / Tripoli.

The predominant focus remains on addressing humanitarian needs while strengthening the capacity of the national health system.

Since the resignation of UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Libya Ghsan Salame following the Berlin Conference, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has so far been unable to appoint a successor. Member States clearly demonstrate the need for an increased and more active role of the UN.

The July announcement by the National Petroleum Corporation of Libya (NOC) that it has increased its force majeure nationwide and resumed its vital work was highly welcomed by most Member States, also as a sign to support financial transparency in Libya and, through UN-led dialogue, a common understanding among Libyans on an equal distribution of oil and gas revenues. The NOC has drawn up a plan to start generating and placing revenue in the NACA account, which would be inaccessible to both parties to the conflict, including various militia groups. At the same time, despite this, there were again foreign-backed efforts against Libya, including mercenary incursions against NOC facilities.

Meeting with Speaker of the House of Representatives (HoR) Aguila Saleh in Moscow on July 3, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov reiterated Russia’s “principled” support for the June 6 Cairo Declaration. HoR Chairman Saleh stated that Prime Minister al-Sarraj could not be a partner in political dialogue, and that the legitimate party was the Supreme Council of State (HCS).

During a phone call with the Secretary-General on July 1, Prime Minister al-Sarraj reiterated that Haftar could not be a partner in political negotiations, and that a political solution should be based on the ‘voice of the Libyan people’ through a constitutional framework and elections; new elites representing the East should be encouraged to participate in political talks.

Libya is at a critical stage in orienting its energy system. Daily power outages in the West currently average 12 hours and 14 in the South, causing more and more demonstrations.

Across Libya, restrictions on unemployment and mobility, as well as migrants’ lack of access to livelihoods, have significantly increased food insecurity, reduced access to health services, and eroded the coping capacity of vulnerable segments of the population.

There have been fresh population displacements from Tarhouna and Sirte to the eastern municipalities. The COVID19 response capacity of these municipalities needs to be assessed and their capacity for emergency response strengthened.

In a statement issued on July 13, the House of Representatives based in Tobruk (HoR), while denouncing the Turkish “occupation” and emphasizing “Egypt’s strategic depth for Libya” formally asked Cairo to intervene in response to any threat that may also be Egypt and Libya face their national security.

On July 16, in a meeting with representatives of the Libyan tribes, Egyptian President Sisi reiterated that Sirte and Jufra are a “red line” and that Egypt is ready for a military intervention in Libya at the request of the HoR in its capacity as “only elected and legitimate authority ”representing the“ head of state ”in Libya.