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By Sami Zaptia.

(OCHA).

London, 15 April 2020:

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said that if Libya is to have any chance against COVID-19, the ongoing conflict and attacks on critical civilian infrastructure must come to an immediate halt. The assertion came in its situation report published Monday.

Of Libyas officially confirmed Coronavirus cases (35), the report said that the majority are in Benghazi, Misrata and Tripoli. It said that the World Health Organization (WHO) continues to work with the Ministry of Health (MoH), the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) and other authorities to ensure early identification of cases and their contacts, isolation of cases and quarantine of contacts.

Libyas immediate needs

The report said that Libyas immediate needs include support to rapid response teams managed by NCDC, procurement and distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE), establishment of labs and procurement of lab diagnostic kits and supplies, establishment and support to isolation sites and wards (within or outside public hospitals), provision of training, health education and awareness materials.

The ongoing conflict

Conflict continues to impact civilians and civilian infrastructure, increasing the risks of COVID-19 and hampering effects to fight the threat. In recent weeks, around 745 families (3,700 individuals) have been forced to flee their homes, particularly in Abu Sleem Municipality, and from the neighbourhoods of Salah Eddin and Al Hadba due to the deteriorating situation. The majority of those displaced moved to safer areas within Abu Sleem or to adjacent Hai Al Andalus, Tajura, Suq, Al Jumaa and Janzour. Most displaced families are reportedly staying with host families and in rented accommodation. Priority needs in displacement locations include food and non-food items, water, sanitation, hygiene, and health assistance.

The shelling of medical facilities

On 6 April 2020, as a result of heavy shelling in Tripoli, the Al Khadra General Hospital was hit, injuring at least one health worker and damaging the fully functioning 400-bed medical facility. All patients were evacuated from the hospital with the exception of emergency cases. The hospital was one of the potential COVID-19 assigned health facilities. Since the beginning of the year, there has been at least eight recorded conflict-related incidents affecting field hospitals, health care workers, ambulances and medical supplies, killing at least four people and injuring 12 others.

The water shutdown

On the same day, the water valves of the Man-Made River Project were shut down by an armed group in the southern region of Shwerif in Tripoli. Residents of the Greater Tripoli area and cities of the western region (particularly Tripoli,Tahouna, Bani Walid and Gharyan), home to more than 2 million people including 600,000 children, have been without water. These water cuts have coincided with power outages affecting many parts of western Libya and are likely to further result in disruptions to water flow in highly populated areas. Water systems in Libya have already been badly damaged as a result of the ongoing conflict. If Libya is to have any chance against COVID-19, the ongoing conflict and attacks on critical civilian infrastructure must come to an immediate halt.

On dealing with Covid-19

Strong prevention measures (border closures, restricted movement, closures of schools, restaurants, etc.) remain in place, some of which have been extended. Furthermore, only two testing laboratories (Tripoli and Benghazi) are capable of COVID-19 diagnostics and none in the South, creating significant challenges in identifying the actual number of cases in the country. Information on designated locations and hospitals assigned to care for COVID-19 patients consistently changes, largely due to refusals from communities or armed groups in those areas to have health facilities used for COVID19 treatment, as well as health workers refusals to care for COVID-19 patients because of insufficient protection, supplies and equipment.

The MoH has recently issued a decree transferring the management and financing of health services to municipalities. However, health services were already limited in municipalities and while they are on the front lines of combatting the pandemic, they lack funding, capacity and equipment to respond. Furthermore, many points of entry, particularly land borders, are not fully secured and lack capacity and resources for testing and quarantining. With up to 90 per cent of public health care services closed in some areas and vaccination services severely disrupted, the maintenance of essential health care services has been added as a new (ninth) pillar to the COVID-19 Health Sector Response Plan.

The ETS-managed Common Feedback Mechanism, which is supporting the NCDC by serving as a COVID-19 information channel, has so far received more than 9,500 COVID-related calls. During 5 to 11 April, calls doubled from the previous week. The majority of callers requested information while others wanted to confirm their symptoms.

Market shortages and price spikes

the report said that its market research partner, REACH, conducted a Rapid Market Assessment in Libya to provide a brief city-level overview of market functionality, with a focus on shortages and price spikes for basic food and hygiene items. The information was gathered between 30 March and 1 April from key informants in 21 cities across Libya.

According to the assessment, 48 per cent of assessed cities reported food shortages and 86 per cent of assessed cities reported food price spikes. Shortages of basic food items, such as eggs, vegetables and wheat products, were most frequently reported. Food prices spiked in the majority of assessed cities directly after COVID-19 prevention measures were implemented, with some locations reporting temporary price increases of 500-900 per cent. In some cities in the eastern and southern regions, authorities reportedly intervened to correct price hikes.

The report said that ongoing clashes, along with COVID-19 restriction measures, continue to hamper humanitarian access and the free movement of medical and other humanitarian personnel, as well as humanitarian assistance across the country. Many requests for movements between cities and for release of items in customs require individual authorizations to be negotiated with multiple parties.

It said that OCHA continues to advocate with authorities, including at the highest levels, for immediate and unrestricted humanitarian access for humanitarian personnel and assistance, for both ongoing humanitarian programming and COVID-19 response activities. This includes the removal of all restrictions and immediate importation of health supplies both for the COVID-19 response and other humanitarian assistance.

Libyas Coronavirus: A further 9 new cases announced yesterday

Water expected to return to Tripoli within 48 hours

The rest is here:
''If Libya is to have any chance against COVID-19, the ongoing conflict and attacks on critical civilian infrastructure must come to an immediate...

By January 1986 President Reagan had declared Libya to be an `unusual and extraordinary threat to the United States that had to be dealt with. Sixth Fleet now consisted of two carrier battle groups, USS Saratoga (CV-60) (CVW-17) having just returned from the IO, and Coral Sea (CVW-13), which had been on station for several weeks. Back in Norfolk, America (CVW-1) was preparing for a March departure to join them.

As told by Rick Morgan in his book A-6 Intruder Units 1974-96, Operation Attain Document, a large FONOP, began on 15 January. Libya placed its forces on full alert and declared that America was `practising state terrorism against a small, peaceful country. Fighter aircraft from both sides jousted over the Gulf of Sidra but there were no shots exchanged this time. A month later, on 12 February, Sixth Fleet returned for Attain Document II, its vessels sailing across what was now being referred to as `The Line of Death due to Gaddafis frequently dire statements. Through it all the two A-6 Intruder squadrons (VA-85 aboard Saratoga and VA-55 aboard Coral Sea) present conducted surface search and tanker support for both air wings. Attain Document III, which began on 24 March, now included the recently arrived America (with the Intruders of VA-34 aboard), increasing Sixth Fleets strength to 26 warships and 250 aircraft, many of which were now operating well into the Gulf of Sidra in what was clearly viewed as a provocative act by Libya.

Shooting started at 1452 hrs on the 24th when Libyan SA-5 missile batteries at Sirte launched SAMs at orbiting F-14 Tomcats. The US Navy responded with radar jamming and HARM shots. This pre-planned action, now referred to as Operation Prairie Fire, continued until evening when, at 2100 hrs, an E-2C picked up a single Libyan patrol boat headed north towards the three carrier battle groups. The vessel, the 250-ton French-built La Combattante II-class missile craft Waheed, was engaged by VA-34 Intruders, which fired Harpoon missiles for the first time in combat. A section of VA-85 aircraft followed up with Mk 20 `Rockeye cluster bombs, which finished off vessel.

While the Libyans continued to shoot he odd SAM at US Navy aircraft (none of which connected), at 2335 hrs a 560-ton Libyan Nanuchka-class corvette was engaged by Rockeye-dropping Black FaIcons, which held their Harpoons back due to friendly surface traffic in the area. The heavily damaged warship was able to limp back into port. Finally, on the morning of the 25th, another of the Soviet-built Nanuchkas was attacked, this time by VA-55 aircraft off Coral Sea. The vessel took a pattern of CBU-59 Anti-Personnel/Anti-Material bombs and then a Harpoon chaser from a VA-85 A-6E. The corvette, burning furiously eventually sank.

The identities of the two Libyan corvettes have been confused ever since. Official US Navy documentation says the first ship was the Ain Zaquit and the second vessel the one sunk the Ain Mara. The authoritative Janes Group, however, states that the two names are reversed, and that Ain Mara was the first ship attacked and would subsequently travel to the USSR for repairs and eventually return to Libya in 1991 as the Tariq ibn Ziyad.

It was at about this point that both sides backed off and separated to catch their breath. Saratoga departed for home and the remaining two carriers went back to routine business. The apparent bloody nose his forces had received did not stop Gaddafis rhetoric, however, and he vowed to (paraphrase) continue the struggle until victory. On 5 April a nightspot in Berlin was bombed, killing two American, servicemen. Libya was immediately implicated and the stage was set for the next action.

Ten days later US forces launched coordinated strikes into Libya itself. Referred to as Operation El Dorado Canyon, the event would involve Intruders from both remaining carriers and USAF F-111s flying out of Lakenheath, in Suffolk. Targets would be in Tripoli and Benghazi. VA-34 would strike the al-Jamahiriya military barracks in downtown Benghazi while the War Horses went after Benina airfield on the outskirts of Tripoli. The USAFs goal was Tripoli airfield and specific political locations in the city itself. Backing up those going over the beach would be a huge array of support aircraft performing defence suppression, MiG CAP, tanking and command and control.

With the UK-based F-111s having already been airborne for several hours, America began to launch aircraft at 0045 hrs on 15 April six Rlue Blasters and an equal number of A-7Es (armed with AGM-45 Shrike or AGM-88 HARM) made up the strike group. While the Corsair IIs would remain over water keeping the Libyan air defence forces heads down (they were ably to assisted in this role by the EA-6Bs of VMAQ-2 Det Y, which was also part of CVW-1), the Blaster would go over the beach.

As reported by Mark Morgan & Rick Morgan in their book Intruder: The Operational History of Grummans A-6, according to Blue Blaster B/N Lt Dee Mewbourne there were a few immediate difficulties:

We had some problems with getting good targeting information from the ship. There wasnt much in the intell library on Libya or the targets in question. Still, we planned a high-speed attack, launched under EMCON, and performed a very interesting high-speed rendezvous. We went in as low and as covert as possible. The SINS wasnt working and the radars werent lit off until we approached the coast.

We managed to fly past Benghazi; as we turned into the coast we noted the radar predictions didnt match what we were seeing. Aircraft one and three turned back north then east, and entered the target area as planned. The four others came in from the opposite direction and entered the target area as planned. The CO (Cmdr. Coleman, with Lt. Cmdr. Bill Frog Balls Ballard) dropped the first bombs and No. 2 did a visual delivery. We did a backup delivery and got good hits on the target, as did everyone. The last three aircraft used Offset Aim Points and plastered the front gate.

VA-34s Lts. Joe Kuzmik and Bob Ayres were in dash six; Kuzmik has similar recollections of their squadrons raid on Benghazi:

I was a pretty junior B/N in VA-34 and didnt expect to fly the strike. Wed spent a lot of time working up plans for a variety of targets, and only found out that the F-111s would be involved about two days prior. At that time we were told to expect only four Intruders over our targets in Benghazi, which left me out. About a day prior we were told to send six, and my pilot, Bob Ayres, and I were laid on as dash-last. The target was the Revolutionary Guards barracks in downtown Benghazi, which was directed by higher authority, as was the bomb load. Four aircraft carried 16 Mk.82 Snakeyes, the last two eight Mk.83 1000-pounders with high drag mine fins (true Snakeye fins being unavailable for the Mk.83 at the time). Our plan was to go in very low in a bomber stream, a series of aircraft in a line. We would be the last over the target and well after the Skipper, which meant the air defenses would be fully alerted by the time we got there.

We covey launched from America with three bombers chasing a single KA-6D, executed a 1000-foot night over-water rendezvous, took gas, and setup for the push time. This sounds a lot easier than it really was. After the push we went in at 500-feet and were at 300-ft by coast-in. We werent even feet dry when we could see the skippers bombs going off, as well as some AAA and at least two SA-2s airborne. This was still five minutes before our TOT, so we knew things would be fully stirred up by the time we got there.

Kuzmik and Ayres were absolutely right about the reception, as Kuzmik continues:

From feet dry we were 15 seconds to TOT, so we elevated to 500-ft AGL and I found the predicted radar points, The FLIR was down, which was no big deal, since I wasnt planning to use it in a fully lit-up city anyway. The bombs came off at the right time, and we made a 5G turn back to the water. Id never seen that much ordnance explode at night before, and that along with the flashes from our chaff squibs initially made me think we were taking a lot of AAA; or maybe even on fire.

It was during the egress that we ran into trouble.

He adds:

We got indications of SAM activity and started jinking. We ballooned up to 1,200-ft and immediately were locked onto by an SA-3 site. They shot at least two missiles at us. Im screaming at the pilot to get back down and move the aircraft, which he does, but not before one of the missiles passes right behind us, where it explodes. Ive never seen anything move that fast in my life from a dot on the canopy to a streak right by the aircraft: VERY FAST! Meanwhile, we were headed back to the ground in a big hurry, and we bottomed out at about 150-ft with a 5G pullout. Wed almost hit the ground trying to dodge the SAMS but had made it.

The Rob Webers Warhorses were scheduled to launch eight A-6Es from Coral Sea and strike Benghazis Benina Airfield, while Air Wing 13 EA-6Bs and F/A-18s kept the Libyan air defense units heads down. Two Intruders aborted after launch, in strict accordance with the ROE, the which required fully up systems to reduce the chances of bombs hitting civilian targets. The remaining six A-6s dropped their loads of cluster weapons dead on target and were credited with the destruction of three MiG-23 Floggers, two Mi-8 helos, and one Dutch-built Fokker F-27 turboprop transport. They also inflicted damage on several other aircraft and hangar facilities at the field while trashing the runways. Reports on the urban area targets were more mixed, but afterwards VA-34 reported:

(the squadron) struck Libyan terrorist barracks and aircraft storage facilities, inflicting over 70 casualties to the enemy and virtually eliminating Libyan MiG-23 spare parts inventory.

The USAF F-111Fs hit their targets as well, and benefiting from a much better video recording system than the Intruder carried, had their FLIR imagery featured on news reports worldwide a point noted by the US Navy. One F-111 was lost with its crew, while the remaining aircraft returned to England (with one diverting into Spain) alter an impressive 15-hour combat flight.

While the US Navy quickly stated that El Dorado Canyon had achieved its limited objectives, the US State Department would later say that Gaddafi continued his sponsorship of international terrorism a view that was supported by the destruction of a Pan Am Airlines Boeing 747 over Scotland on 21 December 1988. The violent loss of a French airliner over Chad the following year was also traced to Libyan agents. Nonetheless the US government still asserted that the United States had not only the means but the will to deal effectively with international terrorism.

Photo credit: U.S. Navy

Original post:
Intruders over Libya: former A-6 crew members remember their participation in Operation El Dorado Canyon - The Aviation Geek Club

The Libyan Government of National Accord (GNA) has sent to Italy a medical team of 30 medics to help the country combat Coronavirus in coordination with the Libyan National Center for Disease Control.

The Italian Foreign Minister Luigi di Maio thanked on Tuesday his Libyan counterpart Mohammed Sayala in a phone call conversation which reviewed the efforts by the two countries to limit the spread of Coronavirus, Libyan Foreign Ministry said on Facebook.

Sayala told di Maio that Libya supports Italy until it can eventually overcome the crisis and stop the spread of the pandemic.

Italy's COVID-19 patients have increased to over 120.000 and it recorded on Monday 636 new deaths, bringing the total to 17.000.

Libya, on the other hand, has so far recorded 19 Coronavirus cases, including one death and one recovery - while a second recovered case is in the process of being sent home - according to the National Center for Disease Control.

Read the rest here:
Libya sends 30 doctors to Italy to help in the fight against Coronavirus - The Libya Observer

The Director General of the National Center for Disease Control, Badr Al-Din Al-Najjar, has officially declared the recovery of the first coronavirus case in Libya, said all his tests came back negative.

At a press conference Monday, Al-Najjar said that the curfew period might be extended to 24 hours, depending on the development of the situation.

He stressed the importance of social separation during this time and commitment to home quarantine, as it is the first step towards beating this virus.

The second case is also on its way to recovery, said director of the emergency department of the center, Tawfiq Harisha, noting that he is pending results of recent analysis to confirm he's ready to go home.

The National Center for Disease Control announced a new case of Covid-19 on Monday, bringing the total number of people who contracted the disease in Libya to 19.

Link:
Libya records first recovery of Covid-19 patient - The Libya Observer

The Head of the Libyan Presidential Council Fayez Al-Sarraj has described Khalifa Haftar as "obsessed with gripping power and doesn't care if Libyans died in war or from Coronavirus."

Speaking to Russian news agency Sputnik, Al-Sarraj said the Government of National Accord had responded positively to all calls for a ceasefire in Libya but Haftar didn't and continued to violate the truce.

"I think that the international community is well informed of our position on this aspect. The Government of National Accord has responded to all calls to cease hostilities, the last of which was issued by ambassadors and representatives of the eleven countries governments, as well as by the United Nations and the European Union. It was on 18 March, and it would allow local authorities to combat the coronavirus epidemic." He told Sputnik.

Al-Sarraj added that "the aggressor" continued to violate the truce, attacking residential areas in the capital of Tripoli every day resulting in civilian casualties, including children and women. He indicated that his government is doing its duty to the people to protect them as per the international law.

He also talked about the European Union's Operation IRINI, saying it ignores monitoring the UN arms embargo and its violations on the side of Haftar's forces which are still receiving weapons via air and land borders, saying he is in contact with the EU in this regard.

Originally posted here:
Al-Sarraj: Haftar is obsessed with gripping power in Libya - The Libya Observer