At least 121 people have fallen victim in the first 10 days of the military conflict in Libya. This was data presented by the World Health Organization. Its experts warn that if the confrontation drags on, serious epidemics may occur because the war will cut out many cities from fresh water and medicinal supplies.
What is the current situation in the North African country and is there hope for peace? Arkady Glushenkov has the answers.
The battle for the capital of Libya, Tripoli, has been going on for over 10 days. While the city is held by the Government of National Accord (GNA), it's under siege by the Libyan National Army (LNA) led by Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar. The LNA is subordinate to the democratic parliament located in the east of the country.
Such a diarchy took shape in Libya when Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown with U.S. support during the Arab Spring. The parliament claims that the capital was taken by criminals after that.
Abdullah Belhik, spokesman: "We support the LNA's operation to liberate Tripoli from terrorist groups, extremists, and criminals, and also raise the issue of the international community lifting the arms embargo on the LNA. The army's mission is to protect the dignity of the Libyan people and protect public and private property".
This is the current disposition in Libya: the LNA forces are about 12 miles from the center of the capital. Both sides are inflicting air and artillery strikes on each other’s positions and report small successes. For example, GNA troops have claimed that they've shot down an enemy aircraft, while the LNA reports destroying enemy vehicles. According to the UN, there are more than 120 victims and 500 injured. Civilians suffer the most. People complain they're tired of the war that is tearing the country apart.
"This is the third war already, we've gotten used to it. So far, living in the country is okay, although schools and universities are closed. I personally don't like what's going on. We don’t want military rule but we don't want a militia to be in power like it is now either. We want a normal, democratic government. We want a secure future for our children".
Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar went to Egypt for support and received it. President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi said he supported security and stability in Libya throughout its territory.
European countries haven't yet framed a common opinion on the situation. France, for example, has interests in the oil industry there, so Paris doesn't publicly intervene. Italy has been especially clear about the conflict because, in the event of another crisis, it will be the main destination for refugees.
Prime Minister of Italy Giuseppe Conte: "We've convened a special crisis committee that is going to meet and discuss the situation daily. There's a risk of a humanitarian crisis, and we want to avoid it. It's not just a refugee issue. We must achieve peace in the country that is key to the stability in North Africa and, subsequently, in the European Union".
The Russian Foreign Ministry, meanwhile, maintains the dialogue with both parties in the conflict and calls on them to solve problems peacefully. However, the leaders of the armies haven't applied to either Russian or Western diplomats so far. They scheduled talks several times, but so far they haven’t held any meetings.
Arkady Glushenkov, Evgenia Zemtsova, Vesti.
