Libya’s Elderly Council demands UN to intervene to end air strikes on Derna

The Council of Elders of Tripoli organized a protest Sunday outside the UN headquarters in Janzour district in Tripoli to express solidarity with the residents of Derna and demanded an end to the air raids on the city.

The representatives of the council met with members of the United Nations mission and demanded the intervention of the UN to put an end to the air raids on Derna.

The UN mission said representatives of the protests met with members of the UNSMIL and handed over a letter to the Special Representative and the Secretary-General, insisting that the protection of civilians must be a high priority for the United Nations.

In the meantime, The Libya Observer reports that UNSMIL’s Head Ghassan Salame has briefed the United Nations Security Council on the latest developments in Libya.

Salame said on Monday via video conference from Paris that Derna in eastern Libya has been subject to escalating ground, air and artillery assault since May 07, when Khalifa Haftar announced an offensive by what he called “the Libyan National Army,” adding that numerous civilians have been killed, while aid and medical access has been severely limited.

“The UNSMIL urgently call on all parties to exercise restraint and to take all feasible precautions to protect civilians, and I strongly advise that the Council does likewise. The UN is working hard to address the humanitarian situation and is preparing in case the conflict worsens, and requests all actors permit unfettered humanitarian access and safe passage for civilians out of the area.” Salame told the UN Security Council.