Brussels, 28/04/2011 (Agence Europe) - Kristalina Georgieva, European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, is greatly concerned by the humanitarian situation in Misrata and appeals “to all sides in this conflict to protect civilians and to allow humanitarian operations in Misrata to resume” after being interrupted by shelling. The situation is all the more critical as Misrata had hitherto been the strategic point of evacuation by boat for those seeking to flee the fighting.
“The port shelling hampers vessel rotation and therefore hinders further evacuations. The delivery of food, medical supplies and other relief items has been interrupted, and it is close to impossible for our humanitarian partners to evacuate the wounded and civilians by sea. We are receiving reports of hospitals being overwhelmed by a growing number of wounded. (…) The shelling of Misrata seaport and the fighting in areas of the town where civilians seek protection must stop as a matter of urgency”, the commissioner warns in a statement published on Wednesday evening, the day after an attack by Gaddafi loyalists.
Speaking of the Commission's resolve to continue humanitarian assistance for Libyans and for foreign nationals in the country “in an impartial way”, Georgieva gives her assurance that the EU “stands ready to do more” in addition to the massive funding and transportation assets worth more than €100 million already made available. She points out, however, that “for our help to be meaningful, access to the people who need it is paramount”.
During the month of April, 30 ships have been able to dock at the port in Misrata in order to provide humanitarian assistance and to evacuate over 10,000 third country nationals. The European Commission has contributed to this operation through its partnership with the International Organisation for Migration (IOM). Some 1,300 persons are still to be evacuated. European aid has also allowed the evacuation of some 2,100 third country nationals from Benghazi.
Humanitarian aid provided by the Commission was carried to Misrata through several ECHO (European Commission Humanitarian Aid Office) partners on the ground in the Red Cross family. Humanitarian access to the rest of the country is also limited, if not impossible, due to heavy fighting particularly around the besieged towns in the west of Libya such as Zintan, Nalut, Zawiyah and Yifran. As things stand, the EU (Commission and member states) have provided over €100 million (€100,281,334) in response to the Libyan crisis. (A.N./transl.jl)