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Libya Prepares for Rolling Out Vaccines

WHO volunteers carry out an awareness campaign in Benghazi, eastern Libya (WHO)
WHO volunteers carry out an awareness campaign in Benghazi, eastern Libya (WHO)
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Libya Prepares for Rolling Out Vaccines

WHO volunteers carry out an awareness campaign in Benghazi, eastern Libya (WHO)
WHO volunteers carry out an awareness campaign in Benghazi, eastern Libya (WHO)

Libya has been preparing to launch the national vaccination campaign, at a time when the coronavirus cases exceeded 166,000 in the country.

The National Center for Disease Control published on Thursday guidelines, calling on citizens who wish to receive the vaccine to constantly check body temperature, coughing, critical diseases, or any type of allergy.

The Center stressed that any side effects must be checked, especially one to three weeks after getting the vaccine.

Libya received on Sunday the first shipment of Russian coronavirus vaccine Sputnik V.

"It is the first drop of rain. Thank God, we are able to supply the first batch of coronavirus vaccine," Libyan Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibeh said. "The rest of the shipment will arrive in succession," he added, without giving further details.

WHO Libya has expressed commitment to continue its support to the Government of Libya, and the National Center for Disease Control in the fight against COVID-19.

WHO said some volunteers are exerting relentless efforts in Benghazi to raise awareness in the community. In addition, they are distributing facemasks, sterilizers, and fliers guide with the support of USAID.

In the same context, the Primary Health Care Institute (PHCI) in cooperation with the Center held a workshop to offer training on the delivery of vaccines.

Twenty-seven new deaths linked to the coronavirus have been recorded in 11 Libyan cities, bringing the total fatalities to 28,000.

The National Center further announced on Thursday that up to 869 new cases have been recorded in Libya, while recoveries reached 152,000.

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As Syrian Opposition Sweep into Aleppo, Army Closes Airport and Roads

A destroyed Syrian army tank in the village of Anjara on the outskirts of Aleppo, Nov. 29. (AP)
A destroyed Syrian army tank in the village of Anjara on the outskirts of Aleppo, Nov. 29. (AP)
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As Syrian Opposition Sweep into Aleppo, Army Closes Airport and Roads

A destroyed Syrian army tank in the village of Anjara on the outskirts of Aleppo, Nov. 29. (AP)
A destroyed Syrian army tank in the village of Anjara on the outskirts of Aleppo, Nov. 29. (AP)

Syrian authorities closed Aleppo airport as well as all roads leading into the city on Saturday, three military sources told Reuters, as the groups opposed to President Bashar al-Assad said they had reached the heart of Aleppo.
The opposition fighters, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham group, carried out a surprise sweep through government-held towns this week and reached Aleppo nearly a decade after having been forced out by Assad and his allies.
Russia, one of Assad's key allies, has promised Damascus extra military aid to thwart the opposition, two military sources said, adding new hardware would start arriving in the next 72 hours.
The Syrian army has been told to follow "safe withdrawal" orders from the main areas of the city that the opposition have entered, three army sources said.
The fighters began their incursion on Wednesday and by late Friday an operations room representing the offensive said they were sweeping through various neighbourhoods of Aleppo.
They are returning to the city for the first time since 2016, when Assad and his allies Russia, Iran, and regional Shi'ite militias retook it, with the insurgents agreeing to withdraw after months of bombardment and siege.
Mustafa Abdul Jaber, a commander in the Jaish al-Izza opposition brigade, said their speedy advance this week had been helped by a lack of Iran-backed manpower in the broader Aleppo province. Iran's allies in the region have suffered a series of blows at the hands of Israel as the Gaza war has expanded through the Middle East.
The opposition fighters have said the campaign was in response to stepped-up strikes in recent weeks against civilians by the Russian and Syrian air force on areas in opposition-held Idlib, and to preempt any attacks by the Syrian army.
Opposition sources in touch with Turkish intelligence said Turkiye, which supports the opposition, had given a green light to the offensive.
But Turkish foreign ministry spokesperson Oncu Keceli said on Friday that Turkiye sought to avoid greater instability in the region and had warned recent attacks undermined de-escalation agreements.
The attack is the biggest since March 2020, when Russia and Turkiye agreed to a deal to de-escalate the conflict.
CIVILIANS KILLED IN FIGHTING
On Friday, Syrian state television denied opposition had reached the city and said Russia was providing Syria's military with air support.
The Syrian military said it was fighting back against the attack and had inflicted heavy losses on the insurgents in the countryside of Aleppo and Idlib.
David Carden, UN Deputy Regional Humanitarian Coordinator for the Syria Crisis, said: "We're deeply alarmed by the situation unfolding in northwest Syria."
"Relentless attacks over the past three days have claimed the lives of at least 27 civilians, including children as young as 8 years old."
Syrian state news agency SANA said four civilians including two students were killed on Friday in Aleppo by insurgent shelling of university student dormitories. It was not clear if they were among the 27 dead reported by the UN official.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that Moscow regarded the attack as a violation of Syria's sovereignty.
"We are in favor of the Syrian authorities bringing order to the area and restoring constitutional order as soon as possible," he said.