TRIPOLI, Oct. 25 (Xinhua) -- Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Head of UN Support Mission in Libya, Ghassan Salame, on Wednesday expressed hope to reopen its desk in southern city of Sebha and further communication with southern Libya.
Salame made his remarks during a meeting on Wednesday with representatives of southern Libya in the capital Tripoli.
"Our meeting today is an opportunity to discuss needs of the south and challenges it faces. After closing our office in Sebha in 2013 for reasons beyond our control, we are seriously considering reopening it, in order to open important channels of communications to implement significant programs of supporting stability in the important parts of Libya," Salame said during the meeting.
"All assistance provided by UN-related organizations is not enough. I personally try to double these programs and allocate them to the south, because they need more help," Salame said.
Visits by any international officials to southern Libyan have not been possible for security reasons.
There is no formal representation of any international organizations in the region. Delivering international assistance to conflict-affected areas in the south is done in partnerships with local organizations.
"I wanted and planned to visit the south many times, but that was not possible. I will continue my strenuous efforts to achieve my hope of visiting the people of the south," Salame said.
Ismail Sharif, representative of the south in the Libyan Parliament, said that the people of the south were keen throughout the conflict in Libya to be a national front rather than a regional one.
Southern Libya has been suffering severe lack of services and insecurity over the past years, particularly tribal violence, as well attacks carried out by IS affiliates, who recently fled to southern desert and mountains areas after being defeated in Benghazi and Sirte.
The region also suffers crimes of armed robbery, kidnapping, human and drugs trafficking,weapon smuggling.
