UN, international and national organizations call for end of Derna siege in east Libya
“I urge all parties to consider the safety and the wellbeing of the civilians a top priority and allow for the safe delivery of humanitarian supplies to ensure continued access to basic services, especially health”, said Maria Ribeiro on Sunday.
On Monday however, the Presidential Council issued a statement said that the siege on the civilians must end and that military and political conflicts are one thing and the blockade on people’s needs for living is another.
The forces of Operation Dignity have been tightening the siege on the city of Derna for the last week disallowing foods, fuel and medicines to arrive in the city and thus leading to a humanitarian crisis in the city.
Source reported, however, that some oxygen tanks were delivered to a hospital in Derna on Monday for the treatment of certain patients.
Haftar’s forces toughened their grip on the city’s entrances and exists after the Derna Shura Council fighters had shot down a fighter jet last week and killed the pilot, while kept the copilot in custody.
However, the siege is not new as the forces of Omar Al-Mukhtar Operations Room of Operation Dignity have been besieging the city in eastern Libya for over a year since the fighters of Derna Shura Council tooted out IS militants from Fatayeh district.
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