G8 Foreign Ministers must make humanitarian access to western Libya a priority as situation deteriorates, aid agencies say

Reuters / Yannis Behrakis, courtesy Trust.org - AlertNet

Foreign ministers of the G8 member governments are already set to discuss events in the Middle East including the deteriorating situation in Libya, where violence between rebel fighters and Libyan security forces has intensified in recent days.  However aid agencies believe it is crucial that humanitarian access is right at the top of the agenda.

Save the Children, Merlin, Islamic Relief, Action Against Hunger and Christian Aid are calling for humanitarian access to the worst affected parts of the country, home to an estimated four million people, including at least a million children.

“It is simply not an option to leave millions of people to their fate in the most dangerous parts of Libya,” said Gareth Owen, Save the Children’s Emergency Director. “We can only imagine how frightening it must be for children to be trapped under heavy fire with nowhere to go.”

“A humanitarian crisis may be unfolding in the west of the country, and at the moment we are powerless to help because we can’t reach them. We must be given independent access to affected areas, so we can do our job as humanitarians and help the families caught in the middle of this conflict.” 

The unrest has already caused approximately 200,000 people, mainly foreign migrant workers, to flee Libya into neighbouring countries including Tunisia and Egypt. Refugees are leaving Libya on a daily basis.

Humanitarian agencies are working on both borders, and in the opposition-controlled east of Libya, but have so far not been able to reach parts of the country under government control.

“Our single aim is to help the innocent victims of this crisis, and to do that we need access to families in the worst affected areas. The G8 should make negotiating this access a top priority in coming days and weeks.” 

Dalal Najjar, Merlin’s Response Programme Manager, said: “People in Libya are caught up in a war zone. They need immediate surgical care, medical supplies and mobile clinics. Merlin is asking for urgent access to meet the growing crisis.”

All five agencies have staff in the region, but are unable to reach the worst affected parts of Libya, where people are likely to need the most help.

For more information, contact the press offfice or call 0208 293 6197

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