Category: General

According to the latest UN survey, released on Friday, the Arab region registered a 12 per cent unemployment rate in 2022, the highest in the world.

However, the Survey of Economic and Social Developments in the Arab Region, published by the UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA) projects post-COVID-19 economic recovery efforts to prompt a very slight decrease next year – to 11.7 per cent.

Mounting poverty

Meanwhile, poverty measured against national lines also surged, affecting 130 million people in Arab countries, revealed the Survey.

Excluding Libya and Gulf Cooperation Council countries, more than one-third of the region’s population is affected.

Moreover, poverty levels are expected to rise over the next two years, reaching 36 per cent of the population in 2024.

Good news in growth

Notwithstanding disruptions triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic and war in Ukraine, the Survey showed an expected 3.4 per cent growth next year throughout the Arab region.

While inflation rates jumped this year to 14 per cent, they are predicted to drop to eight and 4.5 per cent, respectively, in the next two years.

Noteworthy discrepancies

Yet, despite the region’s positive growth outlook, Ahmed Moummi, lead author of the Survey, pointed to significant discrepancies among countries – which were exacerbated by the war in Ukraine.

Noting that repercussions were not the same for all Arab States, he maintained that Gulf Cooperation Council countries and other oil-exporting ones will continue to benefit from higher energy prices.

At the same time, oil-importing nations will suffer from several socioeconomic challenges, including rising energy costs, food supply shortages, and drops in both tourism and international aid inflows.

“The current situation presents an opportunity for oil-exporting Arab countries to diversify their economies away from the energy sector by accumulating reserves and investing in projects that generate inclusive growth and sustainable development”, Mr. Moummi underscored.

Through its annual Survey, ESCWA provides an analysis of the latest social and economic trends in the region to help member States in developing and implementing evidence-based policies, and improving economic planning processes for sustainable and inclusive development.

Source: United Nations

Moscow- Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a decree appointing Aydar Aganin as ambassador of the Russian Federation to Libya.

According to the decree, which was published on the official website for legal information, “Aydar Rashidovich Aganin was appointed as Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary Ambassador of the Russian Federation to the State of Libya,” according to the “Russia Today” satellite channel.

Aydar Aganin held many positions, as he worked in the Political Planning Department of the Russian Foreign Ministry, representative of the Russian Federation in the Palestinian territories, advisor to the Russian embassies in Jordan and Slovenia, and director of the Russia Today Arabic channel.

The Russian President’s envoy to the Middle East and African countries, “Mikhail Bogdanov,” had announced earlier that his country intends to resume the work of its embassy in Tripoli in the near future.

Source: Libyan News Agency

Tripoli- The Deputy Special Representative, Resident Coordinator of the United Nations and Humanitarian Coordinator in Libya, “Georgette Gagneau”, called on the government to find durable solutions for the internally displaced persons of Tawergha and to provide all basic services to those who have returned to the city.This came during her visit yesterday, Wednesday, to the city of Tawergha, and her meeting with members of its local council to discuss the ongoing challenges faced by the people of the city to access education, health, potable water, housing, and jobs, according to what was published by the UN mission in Libya on its website.”Georgette Gagneau” said that during her visit to the city, she met mothers, children, divorcees, the elderly, and unemployed youth, and learned about their suffering in obtaining housing and basic services.Gagneau also visited United Nations projects in the city, including the project to rehabilitate the water purification plant and the primary health care center for mother and child in the Allam area.I affirmed the commitment of the United Nations to work with the local council and the government to support sustainable return and development for all in Tawergha.

Source: Libyan News Agency

Tripoli – The United Nation Support Mission in Libya “UNSMIL”, denied what was circulated by some social media regarding the plans of the UN envoy, Abdoulaye Bathily, to announce a new road map and to form a new government.

The UNSMIL confirmed in a statement on its SMS page that this sort of fake news is aimed to confuse about the current political process and the role of UNSMIL, which is not to impose but to support a Libyan-Libyan solution.

The Mission called on all parties to refrain from any actions that could threaten Libya’s fragile stability, including spreading misleading and unfounded information.

The Mission noted that the most reliable sources to access credible and accurate information about Bathily’s activities are UNSMIL’s official website and social media accounts.

The statement indicated that Bathily stressed that any roadmap should be designed through inclusive dialogue among all Libyan parties in light of full respect of the rights, interests and aspirations of all Libyan people to choose legitimate leadership and institutions.

The Mission added that its mandate in Libya is to support the Libyan people to fulfill these aspirations, noting that Bathily urges all political leaders to intensify their efforts to reach this objective in 2023.

Source: Libyan News Agency

Tripoli- Mayor of Ubari municipality, Ahmed Matko, appealed to the Government of National Unity to quickly provide fuel in the city after its high prices on the black market.

Matko said in press statements, Wednesday, that the municipality is going through a exacerbating fuel crisis, noting that a liter of petrol has reached more than three dinars on the black market.

He added that the delay in the arrival of fuel to the city of Ubari for a whole month led to the return of the fuel crisis after its decline in the last period, calling on the government to assume its responsibilities towards the humanitarian situation in the municipality.

Source: Libyan News Agency

Benghazi- Today, Wednesday, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, “Aqila Saleh,” called on the members of the Council to attend the official session that will be held next Monday at the Council’s headquarters in Benghazi.

The Speaker’s invitation did not mention the agenda or the items to be discussed in the next session.

Source: Libyan News Agency