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“Migrants in Libya are hell on earth”

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According to DW, Malta says it will keep 57 migrants on a ship anchored at sea until the EU can rehouse them. The island nation has been accused of breaking international law by returning asylum seekers to Libya.

“This is not Malta’s problem, although we are doing more than is expected of us,” Abela said in a news conference. “Other EU member states must shoulder the burden too. Malta and Italy cannot be left alone.”

Abela also admitted for the first time on Friday that Malta had returned another group of migrants to Libya in April. 

He told journalists that on April 14 his government sent a private boat to rescue a group individuals adrift at sea. The boat then returned them to Libya, their point of departure. 

The International Organization for Migration previously confirmed that 51 people were returned to Libya in that instance. The boat had been adrift for days after Italy and Malta refused entry.

Five bodies were found among the survivors, and seven people are missing. 

Worldwide coronavirus cases over 3.34 million, with more than 40,000 in African countries

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More than 3.34 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 237,137 have died.

There are more than 40,000 cases of the deadly coronavirus across Africa, according to Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention data released on Saturday.

The African continent has reported 40,749 cases and 1,689 deaths so far, according to the Africa CDC, while 13,383 have recovered from the illness.

The death toll from the novel coronavirus rose in several African countries as the continent continues to grapple with the pandemic.

The number of fatalities rose to 453 in Algeria, 406 in Egypt, 171 in Morocco, 116 in South Africa, 44 in Burkina Fasa, 36 in Sudan, 33 in Niger, 32 in the Democratic Republic of Congo, 21 in Kenya, 15 in Ivory Coast, 3 in Libya and two in Benin.

Prime Minister Abela admits coordinating private boats that returned migrants to Libya

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Prime Minister Robert Abela has admitted commissioning a boat that returned migrants to war-torn Libya on Easter weekend but has insisted it was a rescue mission and not a pushback.  

A boat commissioned by Maltese authorities picked up a group of migrants in the search and rescue area earlier this month and returned them to the North African country. 

It is a crime under international law for states to return asylum seekers to a country where they are likely to face persecution.

Speaking publicly about the controversy for the first time on Friday, Abela admitted the manoeuvre and defended the government’s actions.

“There was a rescue of migrants. Had the Maltese government not coordinated, tens of lives would have died, because a [EU coastguard] Frontex plane just flew overhead and kept on going.

OPEC February oil output sinks on Libyan unrest, cuts

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OPEC oil output dropped in February to the lowest in over a decade as Libyan supply collapsed due to a blockade of ports and oilfields and Saudi Arabia and other Gulf members overdelivered on a new production-limiting accord.

On average, the 13-member Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries pumped 27.84 million barrels per day (bpd) last month, down 510,000 bpd from January’s figure.

LIBYAN PLUNGE

February’s output was the lowest by OPEC since at least 2009, the year in which the group implemented its biggest-ever supply cut due to the financial crisis, excluding membership changes that have taken place since then, according to Reuters survey records.

Oil output in Libya has plunged since Jan. 18 due to a blockade of ports and fields. Production in Libya averaged 155,000 bpd during the month, down from 760,000 bpd in January.

Libya: Coronavirus deaths rise to three and two more positive cases

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Libya’s National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reported today that two suspected cases of Coronavirus had proved positive – bringing the country’s total positive cases to 63.

The NCDC revealed that it had received a total of 148 suspected samples but only 2 proved positive.

It will be reminded that the National Centre for Disease Control reported yesterday another death from Coronavirus (Covid-19), bringing the total deaths to three.

According to the Director of the Emergency Department of the Ministry of Health, the third case, who passed away at the Mitiga Quarantine Centre, was a 92-year-old woman, who was in contact with Libya’s second Coronavirus death.

Latest on Coronavirus and Health Sector in Libya

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As of 30 April, 61 confirmed cases of COVID-19 are reported in Libya. Until present, a total of 1949 samples were tested for COVID-19. 3 COVID-19 related mortality cases were registered. Confirmed cases are in Tripoli, Benghazi, Misrata and Surman.

Tarek Al-Matar field hospital operated by Field Medicine and Support Center FMSC in Tripoli was hit. The attack caused a material damage to the building used by the medical team of the field hospital and one ambulance was damaged.

Weryemma polyclinic in Tajura municipality suspended its health was hit as a result of shelling. This polyclinic was fully functional and was providing Essential Reproductive, maternal, newborn and child health services to an average of 60 beneficiaries per day.

It will be reminded that 8 attacks on health care in April 2020 have been reported.

Attack on UNFPA Libya supported Weryemma polyclinic, Tarjoura.

UN mission in Libya calls for truce

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The UN on Thursday called on parties in Libya to announce a cease-fire and resume joint military commission talks.

“Building on the various Libyan and international calls for a ceasefire, including the Libyan National Army’s constructive statement announcing a truce during Ramadan and the response of the Government of National Accord, UNSMIL calls upon both parties to seize this opportunity to immediately halt all military operations and resume the 5+5 Joint Military Commission talks — on a virtual basis, if needed — with the goal to reach a permanent ceasefire based upon the draft agreement proposed by the Mission on 23 February,” the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSML) said in a statement.

UNSMIL documents some 131 civilian casualties

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The United Nations’ Libya mission on Thursday expressed concern over the civilian causalities in the country.

According to the statement, the UNSMIL documented at least 131 civilian casualties including 64 deaths and 67 injuries, from Jan. 1 to March 31 this year.

“This figure represents an overall increase in civilian casualties of 45 per cent compared to the preceding period in the fourth quarter of 2019,” the statement added.

“Ground fighting was the leading cause of civilian casualties, followed by targeted killings, airstrikes, and improvised explosive devices,” the mission said.

“All parties to the conflict must respect their obligations under international humanitarian law including complying with the principles of distinction, proportionality and precautions in attack to prevent civilian casualties,” the statement cited head of UNSMIL Stephanie Williams as saying.

UNSMIL renewed its call for all parties to the conflict to immediately halt all military operations and allow the authorities to respond to the threat of novel coronavirus, the statement added.

Oil prices climb on start of output cuts

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Crude oil prices were up on Friday as the output cut agreement between major oil producers officially kicks in on Friday.

International benchmark Brent crude was trading at $26.67 per barrel at 07:02 GMT for a 5.54% increase after closing Thursday at $25.27 a barrel.

American benchmark West Texas Intermediate was at $19.10 a barrel at the same time for a 1.38% rise after ending the previous day at $ 18.84 per barrel.

The main significant support factor for the prices was the official start of the major oil producer countries’ output cut deal. Saudi Arabia-led OPEC and Russia-led non-OPEC oil producing nations agreed on April 12 to lower their collective crude production by 9.7 million barrels per day (bpd) starting from May 1.

As far as gold is concerned, gold prices gained as bleak U.S. data highlighted the economic impact of the coronavirus, but the metal was on track to post its biggest weekly decline in more than a month on hopes that the countries under lockdown will ease restrictions soon.

The dollar was down slightly against the Japanese yen, trading at 107.07 yen, though another metric of distress in the markets — the Australian dollar — fell by 1% to 0.6447, its weakest since Tuesday.

Sanussi reveals real figures of CBL’s foreign exchange reserves

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During Flusna TV programme for Libyan WTV Channel, media personality Ahmed Sanussi revealed the CBL’s foreign currency reserves.

The leaks issued by Ahmed Sanussi exposed that currency flap’s reserves stand at 26.938 billion dollars.

Another 822 million dollars represent the reserve of the Department of Banking Operations, 1.151 billion dollars are related to the household’s head provision, as well as 1.696 billion dollars are linked to the set aside balance.

Contributions’ reserve increased to 9.656 billion dollars, while the reserve of the Libyan Investment Authority reached 17.884 billion dollars.

Sanussi said that the Central Bank of Libya owns all these funds, adding that the figures he mentioned are significantly real.