UN rights chief gravely concerned for trapped civilians in Libya
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E-mail Xinhua, May 1, 2019
GENEVA, April 30 (Xinhua) -- UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet on Tuesday expressed "grave concern" that thousands of civilians remain stranded in conflict-affected areas in the Libyan capital of Tripoli.
Bachelet, in a statement here, stressed the need for the creation of safe humanitarian corridors for trapped civilians to leave and joined calls for an immediate ceasefire and the resumption of political talks.
She called on the European Union and its members to swiftly and collectively implement a coherent, human rights-based response to maritime migration from Libya.
Her call came as the UN refugee agency UNHCR said at a press briefing here that more than 42,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in Tripoli since the conflict began earlier this month.
"The escalation of attacks in residential areas, including the use of artillery, rockets, and airstrikes is deeply worrying. Thousands of children, women and men's lives are at risk," Bachelet said.
She noted that while 22 civilian deaths and 74 injured civilians have been documented, the actual number is likely to be higher.
Bachelet also expressed serious concerns about the safety of around 3,350 migrants and refugees, still held in detention centers near the conflict areas.
At least 12 migrants were injured by fighters on April 23 near Qasr ben Gasheer, before being moved to another detention center.
"Migrants should be released from detention centers as a matter of urgency, and should have access to the same humanitarian protection as all civilians, including access to collective shelters or other safe places," Bachelet said.
The high commissioner stressed that Libya is not a safe port of return.
She said there is a need to ensure adequate search and rescue capacity in the Mediterranean and to prioritize the primary obligation to save lives at sea.
UNHCR spokesperson Charlie Yaxley said, "Indiscriminate shelling and heavy gunfire are causing destruction and displacement. In the most conflict-affected areas, there is an increasing sense of desperation. UNHCR staff in Libya say people are afraid to leave their homes."
Libya has been struggling to make a democratic transition amid insecurity and chaos ever since the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. Enditem
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