UNICEF urges immediate halt to fighting in Libya's Misrata

UNICEF urges immediate halt to fighting in Libya's Misrata

2011-04-11 23:36:03 GMT+7 (ICT)

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations Children's Fund on Monday called for an immediate end to the siege of the Libyan city of Misrata, warning that tens of thousands of children are at risk in the conflict-ridden city.

The UN Children's Fund said in a news release that at least 20 children have died in the past 20 days due to shrapnel from mortars and tanks, and bullet wounds. The majority of the victims were below 10 years of age, while some were only nine months old.

"More and more children in this city are being killed, injured and denied their essential needs due to the fighting," said Shahida Azfar, UNICEF Regional Director for the Middle East and North Africa. "Extraordinary efforts must be taken to protect them. The siege must stop."

As fighting in and around Misrata goes into its seventh week, tens of thousands of children remain caught amid hostilities. UNICEF said many children are lacking food and safe water, and are traumatized from the atrocities they have witnessed.


Earlier last month, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and UN relief chief Valerie Amos voiced deep concern at the ongoing attacks on civilians and the worsening humanitarian situation in the city, which has an estimated population of 300,000.

Libya is currently in the midst of a civil war which has so far claimed at least 1,000 and as many as 10,000 lives. Government-led attacks on rebels have included aerial bombardments, leading to a United Nations Security Council Resolution that imposed a no-fly zone over the Northern African nation.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-04-11