by OZGE YILDIRIM – The United Nations (UN) warned that despite the new type of coronavirus epidemic and calls for ceasefire in Libya, clashes continue and the health and safety of the entire country is at stake.

In a joint statement made by 7 UN affiliated organizations OCHA, UNHCR, UNICEF, UNFPA, WFP, WHO and IOM, it was noted that the ongoing conflicts and epidemic in Libya pose a great threat.

Despite the ceasefire calls, the statement said that clashes do not stop and humanitarian access is blocked, and that more than 3,200 migrants have been caught trying to cross Europe by sea since the beginning of this year.
 Remarking that at least 15 hospitals are damaged in conflicts and attacks against hospitals violate international humanitarian law, the statement emphasized that the pressure on the health system increased with the onset of the epidemic and posed a great threat to the most vulnerable people in the country.

In the statement, it was noted that Kovid-19 was seen in 64 people in Libya and 3 people died, and the expression “The epidemic is spreading among the people and the risk of growth is very high”.

The statement said that there is no food security in the country and the prices of basic foods have doubled, and the call for the protection of crucially important water resources and a ceasefire was made.
 In Libya in 2011, there has been a legitimacy crisis due to the ongoing civil war since the murder of the overthrown leader Muammer Gaddafi.

There are violent clashes between the internationally recognized Libyan Government troops and the forces attached to the leader of the illegitimate armed forces in the east of the country, the Caliph Khafter.