UN plans to return to Libyan capital after unrest forces staff to flee

[News_Editor]

UN plans to return to Libyan capital after unrest forces staff to flee

2011-05-03 05:09:22 GMT+7 (ICT)

UNITED NATIONS (BNO NEWS) -- The United Nations on Monday announced that it is exploring ways to re-enter Tripoli, the Libyan capital, after a unrest forced staff members to flee.

On Sunday, an angry mob attacked the UN office in Tripoli after the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) carried out an air strike on a compound of Colonel Muammar Al-Qadhafi, killing one of his sons and several grandchildren.

Saif al-Arab, 29, the sixth son of al-Qadhafi was killed after NATO missiles hit the villa. In addition, three of the Libyan leader's grandchildren died in the Saturday attack. During his funeral, several hundreds of people chanted calls for retaliation.

After the UN office was attacked, at least 12 international staff fled the Libyan capital. NATO forces have been carrying out air strikes in response to a UN Security Council resolution adopted in March.

The resolution allowed UN Member States to take "all necessary measures" to protect civilians in Libya from al-Qadhafi and the forces loyal to him following the initial peaceful protests by opposition groups which transformed into open conflict.

"Humanitarian operations are continuing, with the redeployed staff from Tripoli supporting operations in western Libya from Tunisia," UN spokesperson Martin Nesirky said.

The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) reported that until Sunday, more than 12,000 people had been evacuated from the besieged city of Misrata. However, violence continues in the area resulting in deaths and injuries.

The anti-government protests followed similar pro-democracy movement across North Africa and the Middle East that has led to the downfall of long-standing regimes in Tunisia and Egypt.

It is estimated that 665,000 people, including large numbers of third-country nationals, have fled to neighboring countries. Meanwhile the North African country has sunk into a humanitarian crisis that is being addressed by the World Food Program (WFP), the UN Children's Fund (UNICEF) and the World Health Organization (WHO).

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