Top UN official in Libya condemns Tripoli bombardments
Tripoli, Libya (PANA) – The top UN official in Libya, Stephanie Williams, on Tuesday condemned the repeated bombardment of the district of Ain Zara in southern Tripoli, including the Al Rwemi prison, by forces affiliated to the Libyan National Army (LNA) commanded by Marshal Khalifa Haftar.
"Those attacks have left a number of people wounded, particularly among detainees, prisoners and judicial police officers," said a statement quoting Mrs. Williams, the acting Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and head of the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL).
She called for "the immediate end of bombardments" on the prison and the zone where the prison is, in order to avoid massive losses among the detainees and prison guards.
Mrs. Williams expressed regret that despite appeals made by several member states of the United Nations, UNSMIL and the UN Secretary-General for an immediate cessation of hostilities to enable joint approaches to fight the COVID-19 (coronavirus) pandemic, "the armed clashes, bombardments and mobilisation of forces are continuing, with an unacceptable disdain for the security and well-being of the civilian population".
The two feuding sides - the LNA and the internationally-recognised Government of National Accord (GNA) - last week accepted appeals for a humanitarian truce as part of efforts to stop the spread of COVID-19. Libya registered its first confirmed case on Tuesday.
However, shells and missiles have continued to be fired at districts and houses of civilians in Tripoli.
"Over the past 48 hours, UNSMIL has documented more than 13 violations of the humanitarian truce, which claimed the lives for at least three civilians and wounded many others," added Mrs. Williams in her communiqué.
She urged authorities all over Libya to release all prisoners who are detained arbitrarily and to envisage setting free detainees, particularly women, children, the handicapped, migrants and refuges because of the COVID 19 pandemic.
"The continuation of fighting might cause an uncontrollable spread of COVID-19," Mrs. Williams warned.
She urged to all parties in the conflict in Libya to respect international human rights and humanitarian law, as well as commitments they made publicly to end the military operations and put the interest of their people and communities above any other consideration.
-0- PANA BY/IS/MSA/MA 25March2020
