Death Toll in Tripoli Clashes Between Libyan National Army, GNA Forces Rises to 58 - WHO

MOSCOW (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 11th April, 2019) The number of people who have been confirmed dead as a result of clashes between the Libyan National Army (LNA) and forces loyal to the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) in Tripoli has risen to 58, the World Health Organization (WHO) said on Thursday.

On Tuesday, the WHO spokesman, Tarik Jasarevic, said that Libyan medical facilities reported 47 deaths, including two doctors, and 181 people injured.

"#Tripoli violence: Total number of casualties are 58 dead (6 of them civilians) and 275 wounded (9 of them civilians). Of those killed, 3 were health workers: two doctors and one ambulance driver. #LibyaCrisis @UNSMILibya @OCHA_Libya @WHOEMRO @eu_echo #NotATarget," the organization tweeted.

On Wednesday, the health organization called on all parties involved in the Libyan conflict to keep all health workers safe.

Libya has been suffering from unrest since 2011, when its long-time leader Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown and killed. The country is divided between two rival governments, with an elected parliament governing the country's east and the UN- and EU-backed GNA ruling the west from Tripoli.

The situation escalated last week, when the LNA, headed by Khalifa Haftar and backed by the eastern government, announced on April 4 an offensive against Tripoli in a bid to oust what Haftar called terrorist forces from the capital city. In response, armed forces loyal to the GNA started a military operation against the LNA on Sunday.