TRIPOLI, Nov. 26 (Xinhua) -- United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) has begun implementing a maintenance program for damaged schools in the Libyan city of Sirte, according to a spokesman of the city's Municipal Council on Sunday.
"The UN mission, through UN Development Program (UNDP) and within the agreement signed with the Municipal Council, has started maintenance of damaged educational institutions in the city, which was caused by the military operations against the Islamic State (IS) last year," Mohammed Al-Emil told Xinhua.
"The program targets 12 schools. Work is under way to maintain four schools at the moment, with a financial budget of over 2 million U.S. dollars," Al-Emil said.
According to statistics of the Education Facilities Department in Sirte, 65 schools were affected by the war in Sirte, of which 25 need full maintenance.
Emil said the Council would soon sign agreements with the UNDP at the end of 2017 and early 2018 to support programs to maintain sanitation and drinking water facilities in the city.
Forces of the UN-backed government managed to defeat and expel IS affiliates in Sirte, some 450 km east of the capital Tripoli, after nearly eight months of fierce fighting.
