ZCZC
BFF-23
HEALTH-VIRUS-LIBYA-CONFLICT
War-torn Libya reports first coronavirus case
TRIPOLI, March 25, 2020 (BSS/AFP) – Libya has reported its first case of
the novel coronavirus, a particular source of concern in the North African
country where civil war has badly degraded the public healthcare system.
Libya has been mired in chaos since the 2011 overthrow of longtime dictator
Moamer Kadhafi and is divided between the Tripoli-based Government of
National Unity (GNA) and forces loyal to eastern-based military strongman
Khalifa Haftar.
The health minister of the UN-recognised GNA late Tuesday reported “a first
contamination with the coronavirus in Libya,” without giving details of the
case.
“The necessary measures have been taken to treat” the patient, the
minister, Ehmed Ben Omar, said in a brief online statement.
Badreddine al-Najar, director of the National Centre for Disease Control,
said the patient had returned from Saudi Arabia via Tunisia a week ago.
Even before this first case was detected, both rival administrations had
launched preventive measures against the COVID-19 pandemic, including night-
time curfews and the closure of restaurants and cafes.
But they have contined to fight in the main battleground south of the
capital, where the sound of heavy bombardment was heard on Tuesday.
The risk posed by the pandemic is particularly worrying in Libya, where the
security and humanitarian situation have deteriorated further since Haftar
launched an offensive against Tripoli almost a year ago.
The fighting has killed more than 1,000 people and displaced 150,000.
A fragile truce entered into force on January 12, but fighting has
continued with each side blaming the other.
Days ago, UN chief Antonio Guterres urged both GNA and Haftar forces to
observe a truce, citing “the already dire humanitarian situation in Libya and
the possible impact of the COVID-19 pandemic”.
BSS/AFP/MSY/1346 hrs