Pope Francis on Sunday condemned the air strike on Libya detention center and called for humanitarian corridors to help rescue migrants, reported Reuters. The air strike last week killed dozens in a Libya detention center.
“The international community cannot accept such grave incidents,” the pope said in his weekly Angelus in Rome’s St. Peter’s square. “I hope that humanitarian corridors will be organized in a concerted way for those migrants most in need.”
More than 60 people died and 130 others were injured in the attack July 3 on the Tajoura refugee camp and detention center east of Tripoli. Six children were among the migrants killed. Haftar’s LNA has denied it was responsible for the attack.
Francis prayed for the victims of the strike which the U.N. said could amount to a war crime.
“I pray for the victims: the God of peace welcomes the dead to himself and supports the wounded,” the Pope said.
He also called for prayers for the victims of bloodsheds that recently took place in Afghanistan, Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger.
More than 3,300 people are estimated to be held in migrant detention centers around Tripoli, where armed conflict between the Libyan National Army led by Gen. Khalifa Haftar and UN-backed Government of National Accord (GNA) started in early April. Haftar and his forces initiated the war to capture the capital, Tripoli.
Last week, the United Nations Security Council called for a cease-fire in Tripoli following the deadly attack. Other international councils have called out the Libyan government to close their migrant detention centers.
According to the World Health Organization, more than 1000 people have lost their lives, 5000 people have been injured and more than 100,000 people have been forced to flee their homes in Libya since the armed conflict began.
