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Libya’s GNU Pledges to Reconstruct Flood-Ravaged Derna

People search for flood victims in Derna, Libya, Sept. 15, 2023. (AP)
People search for flood victims in Derna, Libya, Sept. 15, 2023. (AP)
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Libya’s GNU Pledges to Reconstruct Flood-Ravaged Derna

People search for flood victims in Derna, Libya, Sept. 15, 2023. (AP)
People search for flood victims in Derna, Libya, Sept. 15, 2023. (AP)

Abdulhamid al-Dbeibah, the head of Libya's Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU), pledged on Tuesday to rebuild the flood-affected areas in the east of the country.

He said his government is capable of completing the reconstruction works in Derna and the rest of the al-Jebal al-Akhdar cities in the east of the country, where a hurricane-strength storm lashed the area on September 10, devastating entire neighborhoods and sweeping thousands of people into the sea.

Dbeibah also underscored the importance to tackling the psychological repercussions of the affected population.

Speaking at a conference on mental health and psychotherapy in Tripoli, he said the country “has experienced very difficult circumstances, and previous governments neglected psychological support.”

On Monday, Dbeibah met with the UK Secretary of State for the Armed Forces, James Hebbey, to review Libyan-British cooperation on training and the fight against terrorism.

Meanwhile, head of the Libyan Presidential Council Mohamed al-Menfi called for the formation of a post-disaster management team to deal with the aftermath of the floods.

During a meeting of the National Planning Council, he said the team should include experts and specialists in various fields to deal with the current situation in Libya and take appropriate and rapid decisions.

Also in Tripoli, Menfi’s two deputies, Moussa al-Kouni and Abdullah Lafi said they discussed with US Ambassador to Libya Richard Norland and Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of Conflict and Stabilization Operations Anne Witkowsky the latest developments in Libya and ways to develop cooperation mechanisms between Tripoli and Washington in many areas, especially in holding elections, and achieving reconciliation and development.

Separately, the Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday it signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the European Union Border Assistance Mission (EUBAM) on coordination and cooperation in managing and securing Libyan borders and in fighting against border crimes and terrorism.

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Arab World

Islamic Consensus in Istanbul on Need for Solidarity Against Israeli Escalation

A commemorative photo of the ministers and officials participating in the 51st session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Council in Istanbul (AFP)
A commemorative photo of the ministers and officials participating in the 51st session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Council in Istanbul (AFP)
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Islamic Consensus in Istanbul on Need for Solidarity Against Israeli Escalation

A commemorative photo of the ministers and officials participating in the 51st session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Council in Istanbul (AFP)
A commemorative photo of the ministers and officials participating in the 51st session of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation Council in Istanbul (AFP)

The 51st session of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), held in Istanbul, witnessed a clear consensus among member states on the need for unity and solidarity in the face of Israel’s ongoing escalation. This comes amid continued international silence on the violations committed in Gaza and Israel’s expanding attacks into Lebanon, Syria, and Iran.
 
In his opening speech, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, stated that the world’s silence on Israel’s aggressive policies in Palestine has only encouraged its regional expansion. He asserted that the coming period will see a “much greater role for the Islamic world, which must become an independent global power.”
 
Erdogan urged Islamic nations to overcome internal disputes and unite in defending their common causes. He warned that Netanyahu’s “Zionist ambitions” could push the world into catastrophe, likening the threat to that of Adolf Hitler, whose ambitions ignited World War II.
 
Regarding Iran, Erdogan stressed that defending oneself against Israeli attacks is a legitimate right, stating: “There is no difference between an attack on Tehran, Istanbul, Makkah, or Madinah - they share the same fate.”

He also warned against attempts to impose a “new Sykes-Picot” agreement on the region. He added that the humanitarian situation in Gaza is worse than Nazi concentration camps, with over two million Palestinians struggling to survive under siege for nearly two years.
 
Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan, who assumed the presidency of the session, warned that Israel is dragging the region to the brink of total catastrophe.
He stressed that the core issue is not about Palestine, Iran, Lebanon, or others. It is “an Israeli problem,” he said. He further called for a firm stance against the aggression and praised Egypt and Qatar for their ongoing efforts to mediate a ceasefire.
 
Fidan criticized the failure of international mechanisms, particularly the UN Security Council, in addressing the ongoing atrocities in Gaza.
 
Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit also condemned any targeting of nuclear facilities in Iran, warning of severe humanitarian and environmental consequences. He said that expanding the war will not bring peace and stressed the necessity of returning to diplomacy, referencing past successful negotiations on Iran’s nuclear program.
 
Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jasem Albudaiwi condemned Israel’s violations of international law and sovereignty in its attacks on Iran. He called for restraint, a return to diplomacy, and praised Oman’s mediation between the US and Iran.
 
Closed sessions were held in Istanbul to discuss developments in Gaza and Iran’s nuclear negotiations. A special Arab ministerial meeting also took place, denouncing the Israeli aggression against Iran and calling for urgent efforts to de-escalate.