UNSMIL welcomes approval of Libyan parties of a humanitarian pause

Libyan Cloud News Agency – Tunisia

The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has welcomed the positive responses by the Government of National Accord and “the Libyan National Army” to the calls for of a humanitarian pause.

UNSMIL expressed in a statement hope that the parties to the conflict stop the fighting immediately on all fronts to allow national health authorities and health partners to respond to the potential threat of COVID-19 in the country.

UNSMIL called on all parties to join forces, work together and direct their powers and resources to support Libyans and local authorities to improve their preparedness to battle this pandemic and prevent catastrophic consequences.

“This includes allowing unhindered access to the provisions of humanitarian assistance, goods and food items, and to allow WHO and health sector partners to work unimpeded in all parts of the country,” read the statement.

UNSMIL also expressed hope that this humanitarian pause would eventually lead to the approval by both Libyan parties’ leadership of the UN-facilitated draft ceasefire agreement of 23 February, as reached in Geneva in the framework of the 5+5 intra-Libyan Joint Military Commission.