The special representative of the Secretary-General and Head of the UN Support Mission in Libya, Ghassan Salama has called for a truce in the battle for the capital Tripoli to coincide with the Muslim feast of Eid-dul-Adha next weekend to allow for humanitarian aid to reach those in dire need.
His statement seen late on Sunday comes as fighting intensifies in Tripoli where heavy shelling has targeted civilian areas although this is being denied by Khalifa Hafter’s forces who are battling soldiers backing the internationally recognized government for control of the Libyan capital.
His statement seen late on Sunday, said a temporary ceasefire would go a long way to alleviate the humanitarian sufferings of people caught up in the conflict which has been raging since April.
The Muslim world of which Libya is a part, will observe the religious feast of Eid-dul-Adha next Sunday and Salama has called on both sides to the conflict to exercise restraint during this festive period to ensure that humanitarian workers reach those in desperate need of relief aid.
He condemned the repeated indiscriminate shelling of Meetiga airport, the only functioning airport available for use by millions of civilians and for the delivery of humanitarian assistance in the greater Tripoli area.
Salama added that the attacks since the start of Hafter’s offensive to take Tripoli on 4 April have caused concern over the broader impact on those directly affected by the fighting, including thousands of civilians trapped in frontline areas and hundreds of thousands displaced.
He said the UN’s repeated calls for the protection of all civilian infrastructure and for precautions to protect the civilian population had gone largely unheeded.
Meanwhile, the deputy Transport minister, Hisham Abushkewat said Meetiga International Airport, the only functioning airport in Tripoli was bombed Saturday as flights full of prospective pilgrims were about to depart for Mecca in Saudia Arabia.
He accused Hafter’s forces of the attack which caused air traffic to be suspended for two hours.
According to him, the airport had been targeted about 14 times with more than 28 missiles since the beginning of the battle for Tripoli four months ago, a situation which prompts flight delays.
Hisham pointed out that the reputation of Libyan airports have become negative and insurance companies are refusing to cover damages the Meetiga International Airport which has been bombed severally.
SS/as/APA