8. UNSMIL and its partners in the international defence working group, continue to assist in the development of military education and training, personnel and pension reform, defence legislation and regulations, and media and communications capabilities. A number of experts have been embedded in the Ministry of Defence and Office of the Chief of the General Staff of the Army.
9. On 5 and 6 December, the World Health Organization facilitated national consultations in partnership with the Warriors Affairs Commission for Rehabilitation and Development, the Ministry of Health and Libyan universities to design a curriculum for a one-year course on psychosocial rehabilitation of former combatants and their families, to be launched in March of this year.
10. Various Libyan institutions with the help of the UN and other international partners continued to make significant progress in clearing unexploded ordnances and improving ammunition management. Risk education, including a Ministry of Education training of teachers programme is supported by UNICEF. However, much remains to be done. For the year 2013, the UN will require US$21 million of voluntary funds to efficiently continue its activities.
11. Security along Libya’s borders remains a key concern given the current capacity limitations and the possible impact of recent developments in Mali. In early December, Prime Minister Zeidan visited Algeria, Chad, Niger and Sudan to discuss border security and ways to improve bilateral relations. This visit resulted in agreements on border security cooperation. On January 12th, the Prime Minister met with the Prime Ministers of Algeria and Tunisia in Ghadames and agreed to joint measures to combat organized crime, terrorism and smuggling across borders.
12. Meanwhile, discontent among the population in the south has increased with accusations of insufficient service delivery prompting a temporary walkout by some General National Congress members to draw attention to the issue. Libyan authorities at the highest level expressed, through visits and otherwise, their willingness to address these problems. Prior to that, my Deputy led a joint UNCT/UNSMIL mission to the south from 19th to 23rd November. They met with local authorities and representatives of civil society to look into humanitarian and development needs. Some of the findings were shared with officials in Tripoli.
