The United Nations humanitarian agencies have launched a joint effort to deliver much-needed assistance to individuals in Libya impacted by the fighting in the capital Tripoli, the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSIMIL) said in a press release on Thursday
UNITED NATIONS (Pakistan Point News / Sputnik - 25th April, 2019) The United Nations humanitarian agencies have launched a joint effort to deliver much-needed assistance to individuals in Libya impacted by the fighting in the capital Tripoli, the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSIMIL) said in a press release on Thursday."In response to the ongoing intense clashes in Tripoli, four United Nations agencies launched the Rapid Response Mechanism... for the first time in Libya to provide assistance to vulnerable displaced families," the release said.
UNSIMIL explained that the International Organization for Migration, United Nations Population Fund, United Nations Children's Fund and World food Program partnered with local groups to rapidly deliver necessities to the displaced individuals.
The rapid response effort has helped deliver aid to 9,500 newly displaced people, including 3,802 children and 2,470 women and girls, according to the release.
On April 4, Libyan National Army (LNA) commander Khalifa Haftar ordered an offensive on Tripoli to retake the city from what he called are terrorist forces.
Since the killing of Libya's leader Muammar Gaddafi by US-supported Islamic extremists in 2011, Libya has been divided and ruled by two governments. The eastern part is controlled by the LNA, and the western part governed by the UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA).
The forces loyal to the GNA have undertaken a counteroffensive, dubbed Volcano of Rage, to stop the LNA's advance.
