On Thursday, the National Committee for Human Rights in Libya (NCHRL) voiced its objections to a recent statement by the United Nations, which claimed notable improvements in the living conditions of internally displaced individuals, within Libya.
The NCHRL conveyed its deep concerns regarding remarks by the UN’s Special Advisor on Internal Displacement, Robert Piper following his visit to Tripoli and Benghazi.
The Committee’s response underscored numerous discrepancies in Piper’s assertions, indicating that his report was “rife with misinformation and misleading evaluations of the realities faced by displaced Libyans.” They particularly challenged the claim that the government had “successfully resettled a majority of the displaced after the October 2020 ceasefire agreement.”
Highlighting the inconsistencies, the NCHRL contested the UN Advisor’s assertion that around 80% of displaced persons had seen their situations resolved. Based on their long-standing observations, it pointed to ongoing issues. For instance, “nearly 7,000 families from Benghazi remain dispersed in western Libya, with little progress in addressing their predicament or aiding their return. Similarly, the Tawergha community still endures hardships in makeshift camps, with their hometown remaining unreconstructed.”
The Committee also referenced a UN expert panel’s findings, which spotlighted the forced relocation of over 20,000 individuals from central Benghazi earlier this year, primarily orchestrated by the Tariq bin Ziyad and 20/20 battalions.
The statement concluded with a stern rebuke of the UN’s conclusions, urging the international body to “critically re-examine its sources.”
The Committee also suggested that during Piper’s visit, “certain representatives from the Government of National Unity (GNU) may have manipulated information, aiming to project a falsely positive image to the global community.” They emphasized that “many expert organizations, both governmental and non-governmental, specializing in human rights and humanitarian issues were deliberately excluded from discussions with the UN Special Advisor.”