Libya Studies Action Plan to Scale Up COVID Readiness, Response

Migrants receiving vaccines at a detention center in Tripoli (IOM)
Migrants receiving vaccines at a detention center in Tripoli (IOM)
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Libya Studies Action Plan to Scale Up COVID Readiness, Response

Migrants receiving vaccines at a detention center in Tripoli (IOM)
Migrants receiving vaccines at a detention center in Tripoli (IOM)

Libyan Minister of Health at the Government of National Unity Ali Zanati discussed with a number of officials new policies to be endorsed to scale up preparedness and response capacities against the coronavirus pandemic.

Zanati and the officials discussed procedures and measures adopted by the ministry to stabilize the epidemiological situation.

This came as the National Center for Disease Control continues to vaccinate immigrants at detention camps in Tripoli.

Libya registered 352,000 covid-19 cases and 4,982 deaths since the pandemic began. The total number of recoveries reached 286,000, while 194,000 patients are in critical condition.

Also, the National Oil Corporation (NOC) announced providing oxygen to Ghat district, southwestern Libya, to back efforts to combat the pandemic.

NOC noted that it also provided oxygen to Al Ajaylat, Jalu, Wadi Otbh, and Ras Lanuf.



Geagea Calls on Hezbollah to Work with Lebanese Army

 Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea. (Lebanese Forces)
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea. (Lebanese Forces)
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Geagea Calls on Hezbollah to Work with Lebanese Army

 Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea. (Lebanese Forces)
Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea. (Lebanese Forces)

Lebanese Forces leader Samir Geagea urged on Friday Hezbollah to engage with the Lebanese army and devise a plan to dismantle its military infrastructure south and north of the Litani river.

In a press conference Friday, Geagea criticized Hezbollah for opening a front with Israel and accused the Shiite group of committing a “major crime” against the Lebanese people.

“We could have done without the martyrdom of more than 4,000 people, the displacement of thousands and the destruction across the country,” he said. “Despite all these tragedies, Hezbollah continues to talk about a victory using a bizarre and disconnected logic that has no basis in reality.”

Geagea’s comments came two days after a US-brokered ceasefire between Hezbollah and Israel went into effect. More than 3,900 people have been killed in Lebanon since Israel's conflict with Hezbollah escalated.

Geagea, whose Lebanese Forces Party holds the largest bloc in Lebanon’s 128-member parliament, also addressed Lebanon’s presidential deadlock. The country has been without a president for more than two years.

Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri has scheduled a session for presidential elections in January. "Consultations with opposition factions and our allies will begin in the coming days to explore the possibility of agreeing on presidential candidates and bringing them to parliament,” Geagea said.