UN Pleads For Access To Libyan Situation

United Nations officials fear the humanitarian situation in Libya is worsening although they admit they are having a hard time getting a good estimate because of their limited access in the field.

Doctors have seen a sharp increase in casualties in the cities of Ajdabiya and Misrata, while intense fighting has been reported near the western town of Ras Edjir,  said Catherine Bragg, the UN’s Deputy Humanitarian Affairs and Relief Coordinator.

 However Bragg pointed out most of the country remains out of the reach of humanitarian groups.  She told a briefing for UN members states that the Emergency Relief Coordinator has called on all parties to facilitate and allow urgent humanitarian access, particularly in Western Libya, following reports of civilian injuries and deaths resulting from the fighting. 

Bragg says that more than 3/4 of the country remains out of reach from humanitarian actors. Human rights groups and aid agencies remain for the most part unable to confirm any death toll since the crisis began, although most agree that well over 2 000 people have been killed.

A UN humanitarian mission did visit the Eastern region of the country last week. Although basic humanitarian needs are for the most part being met in the east, Bragg says aid agencies are concerned shortages of equipment and specialized medical staff, along with the possible disruption of supply lines to the region, could transform the situation into a much bigger humanitarian crisis in coming days and months.

Michelle Klein Sullivan, United Nations Observer for the International Organization for Migration (IOM), says the number of people trying to leave Libya has decreased significantly in the past few days, but warned that the decrease was likely not a result of improving human rights situation on the ground

“It may be a reflection of the crackdown in the country, internal road blocks and border checks or more fear.” she said. 

Over 250 000 people, mainly migrant workers from Egypt and neighboring countries,  have already fled to the Tunisian and Egyptian borders since February 15th.

Secretary General Ban Ki Moon had a phone conversation with Libyan Foreign Minister Musa Kusa over the weekend, during which its was agreed a UN humanitarian assessment team would be granted unimpeded access into the Western region.

Ban’s spokesperson said the assessment team has already been assembled and was awaiting clearance from Libyan officials,  which Bragg said could come at some point some over the weekend. 

Earlier in the week, Secretary General Ban Ki Moon named a former Jordanian Foreign Minister, Abdul Ilah Khatib, as his special envoy to Libya. Khatib is to meet Ban at UN headquarters on Friday and is expected to begin urgent consultations with the regime in Tripoli. He may also travel to meet with Gaddafi government officials in the coming weeks.

The Right to Defend Oneself

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service

“We all have an inherent right to self defense in international waters,” according to Senator Jim Webb (D-VA). This remark came out of a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing that saw testimony from Richard Phillips, Captain of the Maersk Alabama. Phillips received international media attention several weeks ago while being held hostage by pirates off of the coast of Somalia.

Both the Senators and the witnesses acknowledged that Piracy off of the coast of Somalia has been on the rise recently. Committee Chairman John Kerry (D-Mass.) said that America’s “ability to project naval power and to help ensure the free passage of goods and humanitarian aid is as important as ever.”

Phillips acknowledged that more needs to be done to secure vessels of the merchant marine, specifically arming the crew.

“In my opinion, arming the crew cannot and should not be viewed as the best or ultimate solution to the problem. At most, arming the crew should only be one component of a comprehensive plan and approach to combat piracy,” he said.

The comprehensive approach the committee discussed could include increased U.S. Navy presence in the most dangerous areas, the creation of a protected corridor that civilian ships can travel within, the rooting out of pirates in their land based sanctuaries and the “hardening” of ships, to make the ships structurally more resistant to pirates. “Hardening” measures include razor wire on railings, fire hoses to repel the pirates, and unbolting ladders that lead onto the boat. Phillips does not believe this will stop the pirates, but rather, that they will find a way to adapt.

Maersk Chaiman John Clancey, also present at the hearing, does not believe that arming the crews is a good idea.

“Our belief is that arming merchant sailors may result in the acquisition of even more lethal weapons and tactics by the pirates, a race that merchant sailors cannot win. In addition, most ports of call will not permit the introduction of forearms into their national waters,” Clancey said.

Clancey also posed that greater liability may be assumed by the companies if sailors are traveling with weapons. Neither Chairman Kerry nor Phillips felt that this argument was strong, because of the intense amount of training that mariners go through already. Kerry, a former member of the U.S. Navy, feels that the benefits outweigh the risks, and that multinational agreements can be reached to work out the issue of bringing weapons into port.

Richard Phillips is scheduled to testify next week before the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Aid, more than just dropping food out of airplanes

A hearing on international disaster assistance was held before the Senate Foreing Relations Subcommittee on International Development and Foreign Assistance, Economic Affairs, and International Environmental Protection. Chairman Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) said that humanitarian aid is more complicated than dropping food and water out of an airplane.

According to panelist James B. Warlick, Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Organization Affairs, the U.S. should turn to the U.N. Secretariat and operational agencies when U.S. bilateral assistance is shunned. Warlick also pointed out that the response of the international community could be rejected or hampered by local forces.

Menendez questioned Warlick as to what the State Department’s view on the ‘responsibility to protect’ concept. Menendez gave the example of Zimbabwe where 20 tons of food assistance for school children was confiscated and distributed only to supporters of President Robert Mugabe at a political rally instead. Warlick said that on the first level, each individual was responsible for helping its people. Following that, the international community should use peaceful means to assist through the U.N. Lastly, the international community should be ready to take action as a last resort if the people of the country requiring aid were denied access to it by the local government.

Mynamar's reaction to the cyclone is "appalling"

The Committee on Foreign Affairs met today to discuss Myanmar in the aftermath of cyclone Nargis. Scot Marciel, deputy assistant secretary of state, criticized the Myanmar government’s handling of the disaster, saying it was “appalling.”

On May 2 a tropical cyclone hit Myanmar, which destroyed more than 95 percent of structures in some communities in the Irrawaddy Delta. The storm left 2.4 million in urgent need of assistance. The United Nations estimates cyclone-related deaths are between 78,000 and 125,000. The United States has offered assistance and the international community has responded and offered over $100 million in assistance to Myanmar. However as Marciel said, “the Myanmar regime’s response to this disaster has fallen far short of what was required. Frankly, it has been appalling.”

The Myanmar government put the priority on conducting a “deeply flawed referendum” on its draft constitution and has give very few international aid organizations visas into the country.

“The fact that the regime proceeded with the referendum in the midst of a humanitarian disaster speaks volumes to its indifference to the welfare of the Burmese people,” Marciel said.

The United States has engaged in intensive diplomatic efforts over the past two weeks in order to offer humanitarian assistance to those affected by the cyclone. As of May 19, reports indicate that supplies are going out slowly to the affected areas and only 20 percent of the 2.4 million people have received any aid. Only a quarter of the 2.4 million people had received food aid through the World Food Program and the World Health Organization has reported that an outbreak of malaria and dengue fever could occur within weeks if the people don’t get adequate aid soon.