Red Cross concerns for siege city of Sirte
There are fears of a humanitarian disaster as aid workers struggle to bring medical supplies to the Libyan city of Sirte, where fighting between pro-Gaddafi and NTC forces has intensified.
The battle for control of Muammar Gaddafi’s Libyan home town has intensified in recent days, with regular Nato air strikes and both sides exchanging rocket and mortar fire.
Assaults by anti-Gaddafi forces began a fortnight ago, trapping about 100,000 people inside the city.
The National Transitional Council (NTC) has said it will call a two-day truce to allow civilians to leave and some have already made their exit..
NTC commanders have also said they will try to guarantee safe passage for foreign workers into the pro-Gaddafi enclave.
Karen Strugg, a worker with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) told Reuters some aid workers had made it inside Sirte. “They’re inside delivering medical aid, And they want to come out,” she said.
They delivered medical kits to the city hospital to treat up to 200 people wounded in the fighting, as well as fuel to run its generator.
ICRC spokesman Marcal Izard, speaking from Geneva, said: “They went to the hospital but were not able to see patients, they didn’t go into the wards.
“They went to the hospital car park and offloaded our truck. They spoke with the doctors who eagerly received the material we delivered.”
Medical staff told them the hospital had been without power and they were able to see that its water tower had been damaged during the clashes.
Rebel forces need to take Sirte before they can declare Libya liberated and initiate a process leading to elections and a new constitution.
