By Libya Herald reporters.
Tripoli, 29 May 2016:
A shocked UNSMIL chief Martin Kobler insisted today that urgent steps should be taken to . . .[restrict]boost Misrata Medical Centre, so overwhelmed with wounded fighters that it is using its reception centre as an overflow ward.
Saying how shocked he was at the conditions he found, Kobler vowed to speed up UN medical assistance, adding “If we wait for bureaucracy, people die”.
Earlier Kobler, on his first and, he said, long-awaited visit to the city, had met Misrata’s municipal council, local commanders and members of the Libyan Political Dialogue.
He had flown in with his military adviser, Italian general Paolo Serra. He said afterwards that there had been discussions about building up a joint military structure to combat IS.
Kobler confessed he was “amazed” at the strong support given by Misrata to the Presidency Council and the Government of National Accord. He added that he come to the city to express his solidarity.
Describing his day as fruitful, he said that he had also talked by relations between the city and the people of Tawergha, expelled from their town after the Revolution because of their support for the Qaddafi regime. He urged Misrata to continue its policy of reconciliation and de-escalation and make more gestures where possible. He said he wanted to see the Tawerghans returning to their town by the end of this year. [/restrict]