Tripoli, April 14: UN Chief Ban Ki-moon has said some 3.6 million Libyans may require humanitarian aid as civilians continue to bear the brunt of the ongoing conflict in the country.
“We must mobilize all means at our disposal, including military, to get aid to those who need it,” Ban told an international conference on Libya’s future in the Qatari capital of Doha
“Approximately 490,000 people — almost half a million people — have left the country since the crisis began,” Ban added.
The conference is being held in Qatar with the participation of representatives from the EU, NATO, the African Union as well as the US.
Members from the Libyan opposition’s Transitional National Council are also participating.
Before Ban’s speech, Qatar’s crown prince called for arming of the Libyan people in an effort to enable them to fight forces loyal to embattled leader Muammar Gaddafi.
This comes as divisions within NATO overshadow the conference.
While Britain and France seek more resources for their military campaign against Gaddafi, Belgium has ruled out any plans for boosting air attacks or arming revolutionary forces.
Germany argues there’s no military solution to end the crisis in Libya.
There’s also an Italian proposal to consider creating a fund from Libya’s frozen assets to help the revolutionary forces oust Gaddafi.
This comes as the western city of Misratah –one of the cities still held by the revolutionaries in the west of Libya– has been under siege for more than six weeks.
Rights groups have warned of a shortage of food and medical supplies in the city.
Meanwhile, NATO warplanes continue to bomb military targets in and around key Libyan cities.
NATO forces have reportedly been using depleted uranium (DU) bombs against Libyan targets. Shells, bombs and cruise missiles tipped with depleted uranium and tungstun easily pierce through heavy armor and fortifications.
Air, water and soil become contaminated when such weapons are used.
DU causes serious long-term health problems, including cancer and genetic mutation in people living in contaminated areas.
The United Nations has prohibited the use of such weapons.
——–Agencies