On May 16, the Anti-Coronavirus Supreme Committee extended a nightly 1800-0600 curfew as from next Monday, May 18, for a period of 10 days as part of its efforts to slow the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
The Supreme Committee also recommended that a total lockdown should be implemented during Eid Al-Fitr, adding that all large stores would remain closed, whereas government institutions would function at 10% of its normal capacity, during the time between 9 am and 2 pm.
The Council added that banks would remain open to provide essential services, however, all proper protocol would have to be adhered to, for the safety of bank customers and staff alike.
The Ministry of Health has urged citizens who returned to Libya from Turkey on May 5, via Libyan Airlines, having been subjected to quarantine in the Pullman Hotel in Istanbul, to visit Zawit Dahmani Screening Center in order to be tested again for Coronavirus.
Jens Stoltenberg discussed building defense, security capacities in Libya with country’s Prime Minister Fayez al-Sarraj
NATO chief, in a phone conversation with the Libyan prime minister on Saturday, confirmed the military alliance’s readiness to assist Libya by building defense and security capacities.
Jens Stoltenberg held a phone call with Fayez al-Sarraj — initiated by the prime minister — and the leaders discussed the latest developments in the country.
Expressing his concerns over the recent escalation of violence, Stoltenberg stressed the crisis could only be solved by political negotiations, led by the UN and involving all parties.
The NATO chief reiterated that there was no military solution to the conflict.
But he said NATO remained prepared to support the country by developing its defense and security institutions, as it had been decided by NATO leaders in 2018 in response to the request of the UN-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA) of Libya.
Global economic losses caused by the coronavirus pandemic could be between $5.8 trillion and $8.8 trillion this year, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) said on Friday, more than double its earlier estimates as containment measures paralyse economies.
The ADB’s forecast, equal to 6.4% to 9.7% of global gross domestic product, was worse than projections in April when it said the global economy could suffer between $2.0 trillion and $4.1 trillion in losses, depending on how long containment measures were in place.
“This new analysis presents a broad picture of the very significant potential economic impact of COVID-19,” said ADB Chief Economist Yasuyuki Sawada. “It also highlights the important role policy interventions can play to help mitigate damage to economies.”
The ADB said the upper end of the range assumed curbs on movement and businesses lasting six months, while the bottom end assumed they would last three months.
In a statement to Sada Newspaper, a member of the House of Representatives in Tobruk condemned on Thursday the abduction of the Minister of Finance and Planning of the Interim Government of Abdullah Al-Thini, Kamal Al-Hassi, considering this as an “illegal arrest” since the minister possesses immunity.
The source also denied that the abduction was because of embezzlement as Al-Hassi was arrested on Libya-Egypt border of Imsaad with half a million dollars in his possession.
He also The Minister of Finance was given permission to travel from the Prime Minister and all the accusations against him are untrue. The elected HoR, judiciary and control authority are the ones entitled to intervene if there is anything wrong in what the Minister of Finance has done.
Libya registered a new COVID-19 case, bringing the total number to 65 after the National Center for Disease Control had announced that out of 56 samples, one tested positive and 55 negative.
The center said the new Coronavirus case is a new one; meaning a person who hasn’t been in direct contact with the people infected with COVID-19.
Recovered Coronavirus cases stand now at 28 and deaths at three, leaving Libya with 34 active cases out of the total 65.
The Libyan National Center for Disease Control announced on Saturday that it would conduct a comprehensive survey of Coronavirus spread in the country starting Sunday.
In a presser, the Head of the National Center for Disease Control Badr Al-Deen Al-Najjar said the first phase of the survey would be in three Tripoli municipalities: Ain Zara, Souq Al-Jumua and Abu Salim.
“The survey will be a basis for future precautionary measures, as to whether increase or decrease them. We want to know the percentage of infection and spread of Coronavirus in the areas through the survey.” He added.
The United States announced plans to contribute an additional $6.5 million USD to Libya in support of its COVID-19 response, bringing the total U.S. contribution to over $12 million USD. This $12 million USD in funding will be used to expand Libyan medical authorities’ ability to detect, prevent and control the spread of COVID-19 in Libya. It will also help prevent the spread of COVID-19 among vulnerable Libyans, refugees and migrants through the provision of humanitarian assistance.
Since 2011, the United States has invested more than $715 million USD in Libya’s public health and overall development, including in emergency health programs to help keep people healthy and stave off disease. This assistance has supported the capabilities of many of the national and local institutions and organizations that are now leading the COVID-19 response.
The United States’ COVID-19 focused assistance complements and builds upon ongoing investments in Libya, primarily led by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). In coordination with national authorities and community leaders throughout Libya, USAID activities are working to improve the accountability of national and local institutions to deliver essential services, strengthen fiscal governance, support civil society and underrepresented groups, help Libya reform its energy sector, promote private sector development, diversify the economy, enhance electoral systems, support inclusive political processes, and increase the resilience of communities against drivers of instability and conflict.
According to a confidential UN report underscoring how the country’s proxy war has become a magnet for hired guns, a team of about 20, led by South African national Steve Lodge, arrived in Libya in late June 2019 and abruptly pulled out a few days later, leaving the North African country aboard two boats to Malta.
UN investigators said in the report they were unable to determine why the team pulled out, but that the explanation provided by their lawyers – that they were providing services related to oil and gas — was not convincing.
Libya Arms Embargo Has Become a ‘Joke,’ Top UN Official Says
The report said the operation also called for a “targeting cell,” a group responsible for drones, and an attack helicopter, but was unable to determine if those plans went through.
On its website, Lancaster 6 says it works at “reducing violence” and specializes in “search and rescue” operations, among other services including oil field technical services and governance consulting.
A letter from Vince Gordon, the lawyer representing Lodge, Durrant and Perry in the matter, disputed the accusations in the report, quoting Durrant as saying: “allegations about the unlawful activity of Opus and Lancaster 6 in Libya are simply not factual and spread based on a patchwork of half truths.”
The letter said that they had cooperated with the UN investigation and offered to meet the panel several times. “Our clients intend to vigorously defend themselves and their directors and employees against false and misleading allegations.”
In a press release from Fenech’s company, Sovereign Charters Limited, it said that “Although the chartering agreement with the client was for 90 days, the situation in Libya had escalated rapidly and within a few days of their delivery the client decided to use the vessels to evacuate the personnel immediately.”
A London court of appeals has ruled that the current board of directors of the Libyan Investment Authority (LIA) and the decisions of the Presidential Council of the Government of National Accord about LIA are legal.
In a statement on Friday, the British court had rejected altogether the allegations of the parallel parties that claimed legitimacy to represent the LIA.
LIA said it would take measures to remove the judicial guardianship and to tackle the tasks and assets under its authority, in addition to finishing the legal representation procedures at state financial institutions.
It will be reminded that last March, British Commercial Court ruled for recognition of Ali Mahmoud Hassan as the legal Director of LIA.
