Wednesday 01 / October / 2025
Tunis: More than 42,000 Libyans have been displaced by clashes in Tripoli, according to an official from the UN's refugee agency UNHCR.
At a press briefing in Palais des Nations in Geneva, UNHCR spokesperson Charlie Yaxley, said, "In Libya, thousands of women, children and men have been forced to flee to Tripoli’s suburbs to escape clashes that continue to engulf the southern part of the city.
"Indiscriminate shelling and heavy gunfire are causing destruction and displacement. And the number of people affected is rising. More than 42,000 people have been forced to flee their homes since the conflict began earlier this month."
Yaxley called for every effort to be made to ensure that civilians were not caught in the crossfire and for civilian infrastructure to be spared.
"In the most conflicted-affected areas, there is an increasing sense of desperation. UNHCR staff in Libya say people are afraid to leave their homes. Water is in short supply, power is regularly cut off and there is scarce access to food, fuel and other key basic items," he stated, describing the situation on the ground.
In addition to protecting migrants and refugees, UNHCR have also worked to move life-saving aid and assistance to support civilians in the worst affected areas.
"Three fully-equipped ambulances have been provided to Tripoli Central Hospital, Al Hadaba Alkhadra Hospital and the Tajoura National Heart Centre, all of which continue to provide medical treatment in extremely challenging conditions," he added.
"UNHCR, with our partner Libaid and other local organisations, has also delivered blankets, sleeping mats, solar lamps, kitchen sets, buckets and other key relief items to some 6,200 displaced people sheltering in collective shelters and urban areas in Tripoli, Azzawya, Sabratha, Garabulli and Misrata."
However, the extremely volatile security situation means access for UNHCR and other humanitarian organisations to some areas remains severely restricted.
The global body, he said, "appeals for unimpeded and sustained humanitarian access to all affected areas and to agree to a temporary humanitarian truce to allow for the provision of emergency services and the safe and voluntary passage of civilians out of conflict-affected areas."
