Dozens of bodies discovered in mass graves in Libya
Dozens of bodies have been discovered at official and unofficial detention sites in Libya, the UN human rights office, OHCHR, said on Wednesday.
The grim finding confirms deep concerns about abuse and torture at the facilities.
From the UN human rights office, here’s spokesperson Jeremy Laurence:
“Dozens of bodies have been found along with the discovery of suspected instruments of torture and abuse and potential evidence of extrajudicial killings.”
The sites where the bodies were found have been run by the Presidential Council-backed Stabilization Support Apparatus in the capital, Tripoli.
They have been suspected by the UN Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) – and independent rights experts – to be sites of torture and enforced disappearance.
The identities of the bodies are not known and the UN human rights chief Volker Türk has called for the sites to be locked down so that forensic scientists can investigate.
Gaza: UN relief chief welcomes growing support for aid teams to resume vital work
Amid reports of yet another deadly attack on a school in Gaza on Wednesday, the UN’s top aid official Tom Fletcher has welcomed growing international calls for established agencies to be allowed to resume their work there.
“Let us work,” Mr. Fletcher underscored.
His comments coincided with the announcement that the US and Israeli-run aid hub in southern Gaza operating independently of the UN had been suspended on Wednesday.
“The world is watching, day after day, horrifying scenes of Palestinians being shot, wounded or killed in Gaza while simply trying to eat,” Mr. Fletcher continued.
Meanwhile, local authorities in the shattered enclave on Wednesday claimed that at least 12 people including children had been killed in an Israeli strike on a school-turned-shelter in the southern city of Khan Younis.
World leaders head to Nice for critical UN ocean summit
As the world’s coral reefs bleach and fish stocks dwindle, the UN’s third Ocean Conference opens on the French Riviera city of Nice this coming Monday – it’s billed as a high-stakes summit aimed at tackling a deepening marine crisis.
Co-chaired by France and Costa Rica, the five-day event will bring together Heads of State, scientists and activists.
They’ll be pushing for a strong political declaration to protect marine life and livelihoods – and they’ll be aiming to unveil the Nice Ocean Action Plan.
Organizers hope to galvanize pledges, forge partnerships, boost accountability in ocean conservation – and accelerate action towards the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs, as they’re also known.
Here’s senior UN official Li Junhua who’s overseeing negotiations at the summit:
“The ocean is facing an unprecedented crisis due to climate change, plastic pollution, ecosystem loss and the overuse of the marine resources. Achieving SDG 14 by 2030 actually requires – almost like $175 billion annually. But again, unfortunately, less than the $10 billion was allocated between 2015 and 2019, making the SDG 14 the most underfunded goal.”
Today, more than 60 per cent of marine life is degraded and global fish stocks are in steep decline. This makes the issue an existential one, Mr. Li said – particularly for the three billion people who depend on the sea to work.
Daniel Johnson, UN News
Music composed and produced by Joachim Harris. All rights reserved.
