Tripoli, 8 March 2013:
An uneasy peace reigns in Mizdah, some scene of clashes earlier during the week between Mashahia and Qantrar . . .[restrict]tribes. However, there is no sign that residents who fled the Jebel Nafusa town, 180 kilometres south of Tripoli, are hurrying to return.
According to the ICRC, thousands of people have been displaced by the clashes. It says that in cooperation with the Libyan Red Crescent it has been is delivering food, medicines and other essential aid to more than 3,000 people who fled their homes, seeking refuge in nearby towns.
“Some of the displaced are living in difficult conditions, as they have taken shelter in unfinished buildings,” said the ICRC’s Asma Khalik Awan, in charge of distributing the aid, in a statement yesterday, Thursday.
There has been longstanding enmity between the two tribes. These most recent clashes started on 3 March following the killing of a man in the town. Yesterday, Thursday, the number of dead and injured was put at around 25 by staff at the medical clinic in the town – and that was just locals. It was unknown how many tribesmen from outside Mizdah may have been killed or wounded.
The ICRC has said it has provided the clinic with medical supplies to treat up to 50 injured patients. The clinic administers initial treatment to victims before transferring them to a larger facility.
Over the past four days, according to the ICRC, its staff and Libyan Red Crescent volunteers have been providing food as well as blankets and other basic items to 3,250 people in Garyat and Nismah, both south of the town and elsewhere and have been assessing the medical situation in Ghrayan and Shqeiqa, north of Mizdah.
Late on Monday, a truce between the tribes was brokered but according to Abdulhakim Badran, a member of Mizdah local council, it was broken the next morning by Mashashia men who fired two missiles at Mizdah.
After the ceasefire was signed a solider was also shot dead by an unknown gunman, thought to be a member of the Mashashia.
Following that, Libyan military fighter jets carried out a number of warning air strikes to force both sides to stop fighting. The military have said they will target anyone threatening the ceasefire.
[/restrict]
