عربي English Türkçe اردو فارسى
Logo
Latest News
Arab World

Bathily Urges Authorities in East, West Libya to Work Together Following Floods

Bathily met on Saturday with members of the Political Affairs Commission of the High Council of State. Photo: UNSMIL
Bathily met on Saturday with members of the Political Affairs Commission of the High Council of State. Photo: UNSMIL
TT
TT

Bathily Urges Authorities in East, West Libya to Work Together Following Floods

Bathily met on Saturday with members of the Political Affairs Commission of the High Council of State. Photo: UNSMIL
Bathily met on Saturday with members of the Political Affairs Commission of the High Council of State. Photo: UNSMIL

Head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) Abdoulaye Bathily has stressed the need for the authorities in East and West Libya to conduct a joint assessment of the humanitarian response following deadly floods in the country’s northeast.

Bathily met on Saturday with members of the Political Affairs Commission of the High Council of State.

He said on X (formerly Twitter) that he “listened to their assessment of the social, humanitarian, economic and political dimensions of the Derna disaster.”

“I stressed the need for authorities in the East and West to conduct a joint assessment of the humanitarian response and reconstruction needs,” he said.

“It is imperative that political leaders live up the moment and work together to overcome the tragedy,” he added.

The disaster in the Libyan city of Derna was caused by the collapse of two dams during a storm on the night of Sept. 10 that unleashed a deadly torrent.

Most Viewed

 
 
Arab World

Lebanon Joins Middle East Green Initiative

 Prime Minister Najib Mikati sits between Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan and Environment Minister Nasser Yassin during the announcement (Office of the Prime Minister)
 Prime Minister Najib Mikati sits between Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan and Environment Minister Nasser Yassin during the announcement (Office of the Prime Minister)
TT
TT

Lebanon Joins Middle East Green Initiative

 Prime Minister Najib Mikati sits between Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan and Environment Minister Nasser Yassin during the announcement (Office of the Prime Minister)
 Prime Minister Najib Mikati sits between Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan and Environment Minister Nasser Yassin during the announcement (Office of the Prime Minister)

Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister announced that the country has joined the Middle East Green Initiative, launched by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman to mitigate the impact of climate change on the region.

“This is an essential step for Lebanon, especially since our southern villages and towns have been exposed to significant environmental and agricultural damage due to Israeli attacks, which requires cooperation with all of Lebanon's friends,” a statement released by the Lebanese Council of Ministers quoted Mikati as saying.

Agriculture Minister Abbas Hajj Hassan welcomed Lebanon’s participation in the initiative, confirming that a high committee has been established to ensure the project’s sustainability and facilitate relevant cooperation.

He noted that the timing of the announcement “comes in light of the continued Israeli attacks on Lebanon, and this matter must be drawn to attention, especially since Israel is destroying very large areas, whether agricultural lands, fruit trees or forests.”

Environment Minister Nasser Yassin said that the Middle East Green Initiative has very important goals to plant 40 billion trees across the region and protect the Gulf and the Middle East from climate change, stop land degradation and desertification and find the means to adapt to future challenges.

The Lebanese Ministry of Agriculture estimates that more than 2.8 million square meters of forest and agricultural land were completely burned, while about 6.7 million square meters of agricultural and forest land were partially damaged as a result of Israel’s attacks and its use of internationally-banned incendiary munitions.