Editorial
Humanitarian crisis in Libya
Address the situation immediately
The situation in Libya is becoming uncertain by the day, and degenerating into a grave humanitarian crisis with due to shortage of essential supplies like food, water and electricity, particularly in the Tripoli. Arrangements must be made urgently to ensure safety of the civilians caught between rebels and government fighters' crossfire in Tripoli and elsewhere where the rebels and loyalists are facing one another. The indiscriminate killings will have to be stopped, the question is by whom and how?
With Col. Gaddafi out of the scene and the fight for takeover of the capital by the rebels still on, and with the absence of a central authority, the pressing issue is to halt the fighting. While one is looking for a semblance of order and a quick but orderly transition of power to the Transitional Authority there is the ominous prospect of a lingering disorder.
Presently, there are special forces from European countries that have been fighting side by side with the rebels in recent months. And there are a whole lot of other elements on the scene on ground on both sides that are armed to the teeth despite UN caveat of no military intervention and a UN embargo on Libya. And the prospect at hand is one of a protracted civil war should Gaddafi manage to evade arrest and succeed in rallying his supporters.
The UN Resolution 1973 of March 2011 was at best a half measure. Reportedly, the UN Secretary general is considering sending a police force to Libya. One wonders whether a police force, even if armed, will be capable of stopping the fighting and disengaging the contestants. A much more robust arrangement than a police force would be required for that. The UN must come forward resolutely to address the situation in Libya that portends a terrible future.
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