Ghassan Salame, the head of the United Nations Support Mission in the country, UNSMIL, on Sunday condemned the continuing airstrikes that target civilian installations in western Libya.
“We have said it loud and clear that indiscriminate attacks against civilians not only constitute a grave violation of international humanitarian law and human rights law, but also further escalate the conflict and incite future acts of revenge, which threaten the social unity in Libya,” Salame warned in a statement by the UNSMIL. “This is utterly unacceptable.”
The statement came after an airstrike hit the Institute of Applied Engineering, which is located in the proximity of Al-Nasser Migrants Center in Al-Zawiya. The institute is home to hundreds of migrants. Fortunately, no casualties were reported in the airstrike.
On December 24, a number of casualties were reported in airstrikes in Tajoura. On December 26, airstrikes by General Khalifa Haftar’s Libya National Army killed two civilians and injured eight others in Al-Zawia. On December 27, one civilian was killed and six others were injured, including two children, in airstrikes in Abu Salim.
According to the UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and the UN Higher Commission of Refugees, more than 284 civilians have been killed and 363 others injured in Libya in 2019. The toll does not include the casualties caused by recent airstrikes in the capital Tripoli and the city of Zawiya.
Salame underscored the need for protecting civilians and civilian infrastructure in Libya.
“The principles of distinction, proportionality, and precaution must at all times be fully respected,” he added.
Haftar’s east-based army has been leading a military campaign since April to take over the capital Tripoli from the UN-backed government. The fighting has resulted in thousands of deaths and injured several others. Over 120,000 civilians were forced to flee from their homes.
