Humanitarian Truce in Libya & other topics - Daily Press Briefing (16 April 2019)

Noon briefing by Stéphane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General.
Daily Press Briefing:
- Libya
- Sudan
- Notre Dame
- Central African Republic
- Cyclone Idai
- Nicaragua
LIBYA
The UN Support Mission in Libya condemns the increased use of heavy weapons and indiscriminate shelling that has damaged civilian houses, schools and infrastructure. The Secretary-General’s Special Representative, Ghassan Salamé, continues his outreach to call for a humanitarian truce to allow for emergency services to access civilians trapped in conflict-impacted areas.
Yesterday, Mr. Salame met with Libyan representatives, who transmitted an appeal for an end to the hostilities and a return to dialogue signed by more than one hundred Libyan academics, civil society activists, journalists, politicians and representatives of women’s organizations.
The number of people displaced due to hostilities in and around Tripoli is now approaching 20,000, according to the UN’s Migration Agency. More than 2,500 people were displaced in the last 24 hours alone.
Many families fleeing conflict areas are heading towards central Tripoli and its immediate surroundings, but more than 14,000 of those displaced have sought safety outside of the capital, including in Tajoura, Al Maya, Ain Zara and Tarhouna.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs says that centers set up by local authorities to accommodate displaced families now house some 1,500 people. Humanitarian assistance – including emergency healthcare, food, water, hygiene supplies, and psychosocial support – is being provided at these and other locations where hostilities are impacting civilians. More than 8,000 people have been reached with some form of humanitarian assistance.
Libyan first responder teams report that civilian evacuations are increasing, with a significant number of casualties amongst those evacuated.
Fifty civilian casualties have so far been confirmed, including 14 deaths. These figures represent cases that could be individually verified and must therefore be considered a minimum.

SUDAN
Earlier this morning, the Secretary-General spoke to Moussa Faki, the chair of the African Union Commission, to tell him that he has requested Nicholas Haysom, one of his Special Advisors, to be available to support the African Union’s mediation efforts in Sudan.

NOTRE DAME
Yesterday afternoon, the Secretary-General expressed his horror at the pictures he saw of the fire in Paris engulfing the Notre Dame Cathedral, which he said is a unique example of world heritage that has stood tall since the 14th century.
The Secretary-General said that his thoughts are with the people and Government of France.
For her part, Audrey Azoulay, Director-General of UNESCO, said that we are heartbroken by the fire that ravaged Notre Dame, which is inscribed on the World Heritage List.
She was at the site with French authorities immediately, and noted that Notre Dame represents a historically, architecturally and spiritually outstanding cultural heritage.
Ms. Azoulay also announced that UNESCO will take part in a rapid damage assessment and will support the French authorities in the rehabilitation of the cathedral.
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