UN CONDEMNS VIOLENT RAID ON HUMANITARIAN CENTRE IN TRIPOLI

The United Nations has condemned the storming of a humanitarian service centre in Libya’s capital, Tripoli, where migrants were present and receiving assistance. The UN described the incident as a series of “deeply aggressive acts” against personnel and people accessing humanitarian services at the facility. The condemnation followed reports and videos showing individuals forcing their way into the premises, damaging property and driving occupants from the centre.

The facility is managed by a UN agency, identified in reports as the International Organization for Migration. Videos circulated on social media showed people entering the premises and ransacking furniture and other items inside the centre. The United Nations said the incidents occurred repeatedly on Monday morning, raising concerns over the safety of humanitarian workers and migrants who depend on the facility for essential services.

The UN said Libyan authorities had taken steps to respond to the incident and investigate the circumstances surrounding the attack. However, the organisation stressed that violence, intimidation and disruption of humanitarian operations must not be allowed to continue. The UN's position reflects broader concerns about maintaining safe and unhindered access to humanitarian assistance for migrants and vulnerable people in Libya.

The latest incident adds to existing concerns over the security of UN personnel and facilities in Tripoli. The UN Security Council has previously stressed that the safety of UN workers and the protection of its facilities must be guaranteed, particularly as the organisation continues humanitarian and political activities in Libya.

The United Nations has called for such incidents to end, emphasising that humanitarian centres must remain safe spaces for both aid workers and people seeking assistance. The organisation is expected to continue engaging Libyan authorities over the protection of its personnel and facilities while monitoring the situation and the outcome of the investigation into the Tripoli incident.