Ban seeks urgent deployment of UN mission to help Libya

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Friday summoned major regional organizations to join the United Nations in helping the new Libyan authorities deliver immediate emergency aid and provide a democratic transition after the ouster of Colonel Muammar al-Qaddafi’s regime. He said the Security Council, which makes the decisions on such matters, had assured him of their support for the rapid deployment of a UN mission in Libya, adding that its decision on Thursday to release to the authorities Transitional National Council (TNC) $1.5 billion in Qaddafi regime assets that it had frozen under sanctions a welcome step. “At this moment of great transition, we must come together with an effective, well-coordinated programme of international action,” he told the heads of the African Union (AU), Arab League, the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and the European Union in a video conference from UN Headquarters in New York. “All of us now must work together and respond rapidly to requests from the Libyan transitional authorities for assistance.” He noted that his Special Adviser for Post-Conflict Planning Ian Martin and his Special Envoy for Libya Abdel-Elah Al-Khatib met with National Transitional Council (NTC) leaders in Doha, Qatar, on Wednesday to discuss needs after the deadly fighting in which Qadhafi’s opponents have taken control of much of the country, including most of Tripoli, the capital. “As do other international leaders we have consulted in recent days, they expect the United Nations to play an essential, pivotal role in the country’s future,” he said. In addition to immediate humanitarian assistance, particularly as it relates to medical help, they placed special emphasis on early support for elections, transitional justice and policing, as well as longer-term assistance in socio-economic recovery, rule of law and institution-building. While there is growing recognition that the crisis in Libya has entered a final and decisive phase, enormous challenges remain to be met as fighting continues in many parts of the country, including Tripoli, Sirte and Sabha. “Lives continue to be lost. The destruction of property and livelihoods has been tragically heavy,” he said. There are widespread shortages of fuel, food and medical supplies, particularly in the Nafusa Mountains and Tripoli. Reports on the ground suggest that the water supply to the capital and surrounding region may be in danger, putting approximately three million people, or more, at risk