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By Libya Herald reporter.
Tunis, 21 April 2016:
UN Special Envoy Martin Kobler has called on both sides in the fighting in Benghazi . . .[restrict]to ensure that civilians are protected. In a statement today, he said that they had to allow and facilitate the immediate save evacuation of all civilians trapped in areas affected by fighting and who want to leave.
“All civilians – man, woman or child, Libyan or foreigner – wanting to leave the areas of fighting in Benghazi must be allowed to do so as a matter of urgency,” he said. “The warring parties must ensure civilians are free to leave and that their evacuation is safe. The wounded must be taken care of and everyone must be treated humanely, in line with international humanitarian law.”
Kobler said that all warring parties had obligations to respect the provisions of international humanitarian law and international human rights law. “All parties must ensure the protection of civilians in accordance with international law, and those who fail to do so must be held accountable. ” he stated.
The fighting in Benghazi is largely down to two areas, Gwarsha and Ganfouda in the south of the city although a handful of militants in the adjacent central districts of Sabri and Suq Al-Hout have continued firing mortars into neighbouring areas, causing civilian deaths and injuries.
There are believed to be a small number of residents still holding on in Gwarsha, but who until now have refused to leave. [/restrict]
