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Publish date: Monday 15 April 2019
view count : 75
create date : Monday, April 15, 2019 | 10:51 AM
publish date : Monday, April 15, 2019 | 10:51 AM
update date : Monday, April 15, 2019 | 10:51 AM

WHO: +120 killed in Libya since escalation of violence near Tripoli

  • WHO: +120 killed in Libya since escalation of violence near Tripoli
Libya

A total of 121 people have been killed in Libya in less than two weeks since the renewal of clashes between the Libyan National Army (LNA), led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar, and the forces loyal to the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) near the country's capital Tripoli, the World Health Organisation announced.

"#LibyaCrisis casualties are 682: 121 dead and 561 wounded. WHO sending medical supplies, health staff support for first- and second-line responders", the WHO in Libya tweeted late on Saturday, Sputnik reported.

The health organisation also condemned the attacks on health care workers, noting that a total of eight ambulances had come under fire since the beginning of the Tripoli offensive.

"Two more ambulances were struck in #Libya Saturday during the #Tripoli fighting, bringing the total number to 8 since the violence began. WHO strongly condemns repeated attacks on health care workers, vehicles", the WHO added.

The Libyan parliament, controlling the Eastern part of the country, has demanded the world community to lift a ban on arms supply to the LNA.

"The Libyan parliament demanded that the international community lift the ban on the supply of weapons to the LNA", a representative of the parliament stated.

The GNA has also accused the LNA of shelling a school in Southern Tripoli.

"We strongly condemn the shelling of a school in the Ain Zara area and consider it to be another war crime against civilians", the GNA Presidential Council said in a statement, released on Twitter.

According to local media reports, no one was injured in the airstrike, but the administration of the school had to relocate refugees, hosted at the school.

The confrontation between the two governments dangerously escalated in early April, when Haftar's forces announced an unexpected offensive on Tripoli. The field marshal stated that the GNA had formed an alliance with terrorist groups in the country, vowing to defeat them and cleanse jihadists from the region.

The security and political situation in Libya has been unstable ever since a 2011 revolution, as the country is still divided between two authorities, with the LNA-backed parliament in Tobruk ruling over Eastern Libya and the GNA controlling the West of the country.

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