Humanitarian crisis hits Tripoli

27 August 2011 09:33 am - 7 - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

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Hospitals are running short of supplies, and food and fuel are difficult to come by, reporters say.UN chief Ban Ki-moon has appealed for urgent humanitarian assistance and for the international community to help restore order in the country.

Fighting in the capital has died down, though clashes continue in the east.Rebels say they are now in almost complete control of Tripoli, with just a few pockets of resistance from forces loyal to Col Gaddafi.There has been some fighting, mainly in and around the international airport, but the city centre is mostly quiet.

Elsewhere in the country the rebels have met stiff resistance near the oil port of Ras Lanuf as they prepare to attack Sirte, Col Gaddafi's birthplace and the town regarded as his last major stronghold.

Appealing for help, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon said millions of people in and around Tripoli are at risk because of the water shortage.

This is a city of two million people with no effective political direction or leadership. The real political leadership and the people who need to take control of the situation are not here and practically what that means is that when it comes to resources like water there is none, and there's hardly any electricity - there was a blackout across Tripoli last night and only those hotels or buildings with generators had any power.

There's also a huge problem of public health - with no water or proper sanitation there's a very difficult issue developing in many parts of the city.

The BBC's Daniel Sandford in Tripoli says the water supply to the capital has slowly dried up. He says some shops are open but they have not been re-supplied.Petrol and diesel are running out and rubbish is piling up on streets uncollected, he adds.

Some hospitals are functioning well but horrific scenes were found at one in Abu Salim district on Friday, which had been abandoned by frightened staff amid heavy fighting.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) found the rotting bodies of 200 patients there. The remains of men, women and children were found lying in corridors, on trolleys and even piled up at the hospital entrance.

The hospital was abandoned by doctors and nurses when the district erupted into violence. The BBC's Wyre Davies at the scene says many put the blame for what happened there on the Gaddafi regime, accusing his forces of taking revenge on anyone suspected of opposing him as he lost control of the capital.

Decomposing corpses are also littering the streets where fighting has taken place, the Associated Press news agency reports.(BBC)

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Comments - 7

sanathsr Sunday, 28 August 2011 12:47 AM

u & your friends, create it ban ki. Now ,u try to show your goodwil to the world. But we r not fools.

Nicky Karunarathna Monday, 29 August 2011 04:20 AM

All the humanitarian crisis are made by UN, US and Western Eurpoe in this world. Libya was a peaceful country now all gone for good. This is what these pariah doing to all peaceful, well developing countries with their lame excuses and bogus false claims. Now onwards ramphant suicide boming starts like other countries they put into dust.

Roshan Monday, 29 August 2011 05:20 AM

Libya is going to be another Irag and Afhganistan.

chandra Monday, 29 August 2011 07:04 AM

Although Gadaffi continues his reign there would not this much of deaths and difficulties to general public. Afghanistan, Iraq and now Libya. What next? Who is responsible for these happenings?

Felix Monday, 29 August 2011 09:31 AM

Dissolve the UN and let each country handle it's own issues. Anyway nothing much has changed with UN being there? Can Ban ki Moon say there were no crimes against humanity committed in Libiya by NATO forces??? or the by the west funded rebels ??? did they kill innocent civilians, took revenge?

I think the world is better off without the UN

roshan124321 Monday, 29 August 2011 09:53 AM

any news about war crimes agains libians ??
UN , any action against inosont people ?

Philip Monday, 29 August 2011 09:51 AM

The people of Libya would not agree with any of the comments on this page - most are behind the overthrow of Gaddafi and are thankful for the support of the international community. There are many countries who have benefited from UN assistance recently, such as Cambodia, Laos, Somalia, Sudan as well as many who have been struck by natural disasters (including Sri Lanka).

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Humanitarian crisis hits Tripoli

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