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174 killed in fight for Libya’s Tripoli: WHO
TRIPOLI, April 16, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – At least 174 people have been killed
and 758 wounded in the battle for control over the Libyan capital Tripoli,
the World Health Organization said Tuesday.
Fighting broke out on April 4 when military strongman Khalifa Haftar
launched an offensive to take Tripoli, the seat of the UN-backed Government
of National Accord (GNA).
At least 14 civilians are among those killed and 36 have been wounded, WHO
spokesman Tarik Jasarevic told journalists citing local health facilities.
“WHO has deployed additional surgical staff to support hospitals receiving
trauma cases,” the United Nations agency wrote on Twitter.
Both pro-government forces and Haftar’s self-styled Libyan National Army
(LNA) accuse each other of targeting civilians, with each launching daily air
raids in addition to clashes on the ground.
Fighting in the southern outskirts of the capital has displaced more than
18,000 people, the UN office for the coordination of humanitarian affairs
reported Monday.
Urgent medical supplies were being delivered to Libya’s health ministry to
support those in the worst-hit areas, the UN’s refugee agency said.
“Health facilities are in critical need of assistance as the situation on
the ground continues deteriorating and number of casualties soaring,” UNHCR
tweeted.
BSS/AFP/RY/1556 hrs