Libya's unity government condemns Derna blockade

By Walid Abdullah

TRIPOLI, Libya

The Presidential Council of Libya’s Tripoli-based UN-backed unity government on Monday condemned what it described as the “deteriorating humanitarian situation” in the blockaded eastern city of Derna.

For the last 10 days, Derna has groaned under a crippling embargo imposed by forces loyal to Tobruk-based military commander Khalifa Haftar.

Pro-Haftar forces first imposed their siege on Derna after losing a number of fighters in a surprise attack on the city, which is governed by the Derna Shura Council.

In a statement, the council said Haftar’s blockade had led to acute food and medicine shortages in Derna, “profoundly impacting living conditions for city residents”.

It went on to call for an immediate halt to the siege and for the establishment of “humanitarian corridors” by which Derna might be speedily re-provisioned.

The council also urged relevant parties to “coordinate with notables in Derna with a view to alleviating the suffering of the local population”.

The Tripoli-based unity government, for its part, has voiced readiness to help provide residents of the besieged city with the necessary support.

In its Monday statement, the government’s Presidential Council warned of the embargo’s possible impact on social cohesion in Derna and neighboring areas -- a reference to the region’s delicate tribal sensitivities.

“We must avoid any adverse impact on local social relations and ensure they are kept far from possible triggers of conflict,” the statement read.

Libya has been wracked by violence and turmoil since 2011, when a bloody popular uprising ended with the ouster and death of longtime leader Muammar Gaddafi.

In the aftermath of Gaddafi’s abrupt departure, the oil-rich country's long-simmering political divisions yielded three rival seats of government and a host of heavily-armed militia groups.