Over 42,000 displaced by Libya violence

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Europe

More than 42,000 people have been displaced since fighting broke out in Libya, with thousands of others believed trapped in Tripoli's southern outskirts, the United Nations has said.

The fighting in Libya has pit strongman Khalifa Haftar, commander of the Libyan National Army, against the UN-backed government in a bid to take control of Tripoli.

According to the United Nations, the fighting has killed close to 350 people and wounded over 1,650 others.

“The escalation of attacks in residential areas, including the use of artillery, rockets and airstrikes is deeply worrying. Thousands of children, women and men's lives are at risk,” human rights chief Michelle Bachelet said, calling on all parties to fully respect international human rights and humanitarian law.

“I remind all parties to the conflict that the use of explosive weapons with indiscriminate effects, in densely populated areas is a violation of international humanitarian and human rights law,” she stated.

The U.N. in collaboration with other agencies has evacuated hundreds of people and migrants affected by the violence.

Others are still in detention however, including migrants stuck in detention centers.

Bachelet called for the release of the migrants for their security.

“Migrants should be released from detention centres as a matter of urgency, and should have access to the same humanitarian protection as all civilians, including access to collective shelters or other safe places,” she stressed.