Tens of thousands of Libyan children are at risk amidst the violence and chaos of the unrelenting conflict in Libya, UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore announced in a statement released in New York yesterday.
‘‘Children in Libya, including refugee and migrant children, continue to suffer grievously amidst the violence and chaos unleashed by the country’s longstanding civil war’’.
“Since April last year when hostilities broke out in Tripoli and western Libya, conditions for thousands of children and the civilians have deteriorated further. Indiscriminate attacks in populated areas caused hundreds of deaths, and UNICEF received reports of children being maimed or killed. Children are also being recruited to the fighting. Meanwhile, more than 150,000 people, 90,000 of whom are children, were forced to flee their homes and are now internally displaced’’.
“Infrastructure on which children depend for their wellbeing and survival was also under attack. Nearly 30 health facilities were damaged in the fighting, forcing 13 to close. Attacks against schools and the threat of violence led to closures and left almost 200,000 children out of the classroom. Water systems were attacked and the waste management system collapsed, greatly increasing the risk of waterborne diseases including cholera’’.
“UNICEF and our partners are on the ground providing affected children and families with support in accessing healthcare and nutrition, protection, education, water and sanitation. We are also reaching refugee and migrant children with assistance, including those held in detention centres. Sadly, attacks against the civilian population and infrastructure, as well as against humanitarian and healthcare personnel are seeking to undermine humanitarian efforts’’.
“Ahead of a planned peace summit in Berlin, Germany this Sunday, we call on parties to the conflict and those who have influence over them to urgently reach a comprehensive and durable peace agreement for the sake of each and every child in Libya.”, concluded UNICEF Executive Director Henrietta Fore