More than half of Gaza’s population on brink of famine: World BankAl-Lafi and Al-Koni receive the Congolese Minister of Foreign Affairs in Brazzaville

RAMALLAH: More than half the population of Gaza is on the brink of famine, including children and the elderly, the World Bank Group said on Tuesday The international organization called for urgent action to save lives. "We join the international community in calling for immediate, free, and unimpeded access of medical supplies, food and life-essential services through all available means at speed and scale to the people of Gaza,' it said in a statement. The World Bank Group's board of directors in December approved the commitment of $35 million in funds to development partners which are active in Gaza, including the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF), the World Food Program (WFP) and the World Health Organization (WHO). This funds include a $10 million package to the WFP to purchase food parcels and vouchers to reach an estimated 377,000 people. Source: Palestine News and Information Agency – WAFA Tripoli: The two representatives of the Presidential Council, Moussa Al-Koni and Abdullah Al-Lafi, received today, Wednesday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Francophonie and Congolese Abroad, Jean Jacosso, and the African Union Advisor for National Reconciliation, Mohamed Al-Labat. The meeting discussed developments in the national reconciliation file and preparations for holding the inclusive conference. Minister Gakuso expressed his hope that the month of Ramadan would be an occasion for reconciliation and tolerance among Libyans, bringing the greetings of the President of the Republic of the Congo, Denis Nguesso, who chairs the African High-Level Committee on Libya, and the Chairman of the African Union Commission, Moussa Faki, to the members of the Presidential Council and conveying their keenness to Continue working on the reconciliation file to successfully complete the remaining arrangements for holding the conference. Abdullah Al-Lafi reiterated the necessity of holding an inclusive conference in one of the Libyan cities, with the participation of all parties, to ensure progress in the reconciliation file as it is the key to the solution in Libya. For his part, Musa Al-Koni stressed the necessity of holding the comprehensive reconciliation conference without postponement and the necessity of continuing work on the reconciliation file. Source: Libyan News Agency