UNSMIL Officer-in-Charge Raisedon Zenenga expressed the mission’s concern about the report that an air ambulance dispatched to provide medical evacuation of victims injured during Monday’s Bint Baya fuel tanker accident was not permitted to land. Bint Baya is located 110 km southwest of the southern city of Sebha.
The accident had led to 9 deaths and 56 injuries. They were caused when a fuel transport truck exploded after it had broken down on the roadside and members of the public had started plundering fuel from it. There are acute fuel shortages in southern Libya.
There were conflicting reports of how many planes were refused landing at Sebha airport. At least one aircraft was reported to have been refused landing rights as it was carrying both the Deputy Health Minister and the Foreign Minister of the Aldabaiba government.
The refusal to land order was attributed to Khalifa Hafter-aligned militias.
Zenenga’s concern was expressed yesterday when he received a delegation of HoR members and activists from southern Libya. the delegation conveyed their concern about marginalization and neglect of the South and called for an investigation into Monday’s fuel tanker explosion.
The delegation requested UNSMIL’s support in advocating for a fair distribution of resources across the country and greater inclusion of southern Libyans in political processes, governance mechanisms and national institutions.
