Netherlands, Switzerland, and the United Nations Support Mission in Libya: The continued political and institutional division, and the absence of accountability for national capabilities and resources, cannot continue.

Tripoli, September 29, 2023  (LANA) - The Netherlands, Switzerland, and the United Nations Support Mission in Libya have warned that the current situation, represented by the continued political and institutional division, and the absence of accountability for national capabilities and resources, cannot continue.

This came in a statement issued by the co-chairs, the Netherlands, Switzerland and the United Nations Support Mission in Libya, to the Working Group on International Humanitarian Law and Human Rights of the International Follow-up Committee on Libya, established under the Berlin Process - under the title (After the disaster in the East revealed a severe inability to... Governance - Unity, principled leadership, and respect for human rights have become vital), in light of Storm Daniel and the destruction and suffering it caused in Derna and its surrounding areas, which led to the deaths of at least 4,255 people and more than 8,540 missing, and nearly 43,000 people were forced to flee.

  The statement, which began with condolences to the Libyan people and those affected by the floods in eastern Libya in particular, said that against this bleak background of countless losses and suffering, it is heartening to see people and local communities from all over the country joining forces to express their solidarity and sympathy, and to help each other. During this crisis, a massive humanitarian response continues on the ground, with survivors in need of food, water, medical services, shelter, and urgent psychosocial care.

The statement considered that the Libyans have been let down due to the severe deficit in governance in Libya, and that they are demanding today, more than ever, unity of ranks and moral leadership that puts human rights and the dignity of the people first, indicating that a tragedy of this magnitude must be an incentive to end the political stalemate, calls for change have become heard across the country and are becoming louder.

The statement stressed that the scale of the disaster, the widespread allegations of corruption and negligence, the inability of governance, and the lack of accountability, all require an independent and transparent investigation mechanism, noting that transparency and good governance are crucial to achieving recovery and reconstruction on a rights-respecting basis. .

The co-chairs announced their support for the calls to establish an independent mechanism to supervise reconstruction in eastern Libya, and to involve representatives of the affected families in this mechanism to ensure that their needs are met and their rights are fully respected.

=Lana=