Source: United Nations (video statements)
Briefing by Hannah Serwaa Tetteh, Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya and Head of UNSMIL, on the situation in Libya.
Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya Hanna Tetteh urged the Government of National Unity in Libya “to facilitate the full resumption of humanitarian operations, particularly those led by INGOs, which play a critical role in supporting vulnerable groups including Libyan women and children.”
Briefing the Security Council today (24 Jun) Tetteh informed the members of the Council that on 20 June, the Berlin Process International Follow-up Committee on Libya (IFC-L) met in Berlin under the auspices of the Federal Republic of Germany and UNSMIL, “reconvening for the first time after a hiatus of 4 years.” She added, “The meeting marked a significant shift towards reinvigorating international coordination on Libya and consolidating international support to UN efforts in advancing a political process.”
She also said, “The armed clashes that erupted in Tripoli in May resulted in civilian deaths and injuries, as well as damage to critical civilian infrastructure, including hospitals, universities and a prison. Despite several stress calls, no humanitarian corridors were secured by the parties involved in the clashes. These incidents also underscored the shortcomings of state security actors in adhering to international humanitarian and human rights law.”
Tetteh said she was alarmed by the discovery of mass graves in the Abu Slim area, following the clashes. She said, “Emerging evidence indicates grave human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, torture, and enforced disappearances, that were allegedly committed by state security actors, notably the Stability Support Apparatus (SSA).”
Taher M. El-Sonni, Permanent Representative of Libya to the United Nations said, “For us to spend a year and a half being held hostage as we await the appointment of representatives and then witness continued absence of factual solutions. This is a collective responsibility upon everyone, including this Council. At the same time, no attention is given to genuine national initiatives, because it’s always said that the mediator must be a United Nations party. This is a contradiction. And this is an untenable situation. And we hope that this matter will proceed with urgency.”