Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General for Libya Abdoulaye Bathily to the Security Council. Top news of the day | Tuesday: Palestine, Libya, Ukraine UN
The main news of the day in the UN and in the world: a child dies or is injured every 10 minutes in Gaza, political crisis in Libya, $486 billion for restoration and reconstruction in Ukraine, restoration of the global tourism industry.
The situation in Gaza and the West Bank
In six months, nearly 10,000 women were killed in Gaza. Every 10 minutes a child dies or is injured in the sector. Some 6,000 Palestinian mothers were among those killed, leaving 19,000 children orphaned, according to a new UN Women report. There, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk highlighted the plight of Gazans and called for an end to the humanitarian crisis in the strip. He also expressed deep concern about the increase in violence in the West Bank and attacks on Palestinians by Israeli settlers and security forces.
Conflict in Libya
The UN Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily, told the Security Council that his efforts to find solutions to the country’s political crisis had been met with “stubborn resistance, unreasonable expectations and indifference to the interests of the Libyan people” from key players. He called on Libyan leaders to reach a political settlement through negotiations and compromise. The Special Representative drew attention to the tense security situation in several parts of the country, and also expressed concern about the plight of Libyan migrants.
Economy of Ukraine
The war destroyed the Ukrainian economy, erased development gains and plunged nearly 25 percent of the country’s population into poverty. This is stated in a report released on Tuesday by the UN Country Office in Ukraine. As of December 31, 2023, the country’s total recovery and reconstruction needs are estimated at $486 billion. An estimated 80 percent of children in Ukraine live in poverty. More than 25 percent of households buy less food due to lack of income. The UN and its partners continue to work to ensure that people living through the horrors of war receive the support they need.
International tourism
By the end of 2024, international tourism can fully recover and reach pre-pandemic levels, according to the World Tourism Organization. The sector has recovered from the biggest crisis in history and could face significant changes in the near future. A high-level tourism event was held at UN headquarters in New York on Tuesday. Zurab Pololikashvili, head of the World Tourism Organization, said the tourism industry’s recovery “must be a catalyst for bold action and transformative change.”