The World Health Organization has said that over 1,000 people have been killed as rival troops battle for control of Tripoli in Libya.
The battle which started in April this year has also led to the displacement of millions with thousands sustaining injuries.
In a statement the WHO said the “crisis enters its fourth month, the toll is 1048 dead, including 106 civilians, and 5558 injured, including 289 civilians.”
The statement said “WHO continues to send doctors and medical supplies to help hospitals cope. Our teams have performed more than 1700 surgeries in 3 months.”
Libya has been in turmoil since the overthrow of longtime leader, Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The country is ruled by factions.
As the #Tripoli crisis enters its fourth month, the toll is 1048 dead, including 106 civilians, and 5558 injured, including 289 civilians.
WHO continues to send doctors and medical supplies to help hospitals cope. Our teams have performed more than 1700 surgeries in 3 months.
— World Health Organization in Libya (@WHOLIBYA) July 9, 2019
The ongoing fighting has cast doubt over a plan by the U.N to restore peace to the north African country.
Eastern Libyan forces have been marching towards the centre of Tripoli for months now seeking to take control of the city.
The troop belonging to Khalifa Haftar who is a former officer in Muammar Gaddafi’s army wants to topple the internationally recognised government in Tripoli.
Role of the west?
On Wednesday it emerged that French missiles were found in Libya as the war in that country continues to rip it apart.
Four of France’s anti-tank missiles were found on a base loyal to Libyan general, General Khalifa Haftar.
They were discovered in a camp south of the capital Tripoli in June.
That was considered a breach of a UN arms embargo preventing countries from selling arms to war factions in the country.
France said the weapons belonged to them but said in a statement that “These weapons were for the protection of forces undertaking intelligence and counter-terror missions.”
The defence ministry statement said that the missiles were “damaged and unusable” and “being temporarily stocked at a depot ahead of their destruction”.
The ministry has denied breaching the embargo. It said the “unusable” US-made Javelin missiles were due to be destroyed.
Th French government said it never intended to pass the missile to any group in Libya.
Source: Africafeeds.com
