MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The humanitarian crisis in the conflict-torn Libya worsens as the nation is struggling to gain access to clean water and sanitation, while hospitals suffer from a shortage of medical supplies, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said Thursday.
"The areas of public health, sanitation and clean water are deteriorating, impacting the living conditions of residents in Libya … This has deeply worrying consequences for community health. We hope to see these public resources maintained to ensure society at large remains safe and healthy," Karl Mattli, the ICRC head in Libya, was quoted as saying in the statement.
The hospitals in Libya face shortages of basic medical supplies, such as sterilization item and injection materials, while the number of patients continues to increase, the ICRC said.
"The ICRC has delivered 60 tons of essential medical supplies to more than 30 hospitals and health facilities across Libya this year amid a difficult economic period. The donated items include anesthesia, dressings, drugs, injection material, sterilization items, surgical materials and sutures," the ICRC added.
The internal conflict and instability prompted the advance of several militant and terrorist groups, which have established control over different parts of Libya.
According to the UN Refugee Agency, around 300,000 Libyans have been displaced by the conflict, while a total number of affected citizens, who are in an urgent need of humanitarian aid, amounts to 1.3 million.
