UNITED NATIONS, Aug. 20 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations is calling for safe access to people in need and safe passage of civilians trying to leave in southwest Libya, a UN spokesman said on Tuesday.

"We call on all parties to the fighting to urgently ensure the conditions for safe and unimpeded access to people in need and to make sure civilians can leave if they wish," said Stephane Dujarric, spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. "We also remind the parties of their obligations to protect civilians and civilian infrastructure at all times."

Dujarric said the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs reported the casualties since hostilities escalated earlier this month in and around the town of Murzuq in the country's southwest.

Casualties on all sides of the fighting continued as a result of air strikes by planes and drones, indiscriminate rocket attacks and shelling, and direct fighting on the ground, the spokesman said.

While nearly 10,000 people have been displaced by violence in the area since the start of August, some families are reluctant to leave because they are afraid of reprisals.

The United Nations and humanitarian organizations are responding with emergency health care, food distribution, shelter, and non-food items, but access remains difficult due to active fighting, Dujarric said. The Humanitarian Response Plan for Libya has called for 202 million U.S. dollars, but it is only 30 percent funded. Enditem

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