ISLAMABAD: The Pakistani community in Libya has been urged to stay away from conflict areas as fighting continues in Tripoli, the country’s capital.
In a statement issued on Sunday, Foreign Office Spokesperson Dr Mohammad Faisal on Sunday said Pakistan is closely monitoring the worsening condition in Libya.
He said as part of the policy to ensure security and safety of its citizens, families of the embassy staff have returned to Pakistan.
Dr Faisal said embassy has appealed to the Pakistani community in Libya to stay away from conflicted areas and asked them to get themselves register with the embassy for further coordination.
The spokesperson said the crisis management cell and help desk were functioning in the Foreign Affairs Ministry in Islamabad and Embassy of Pakistan in Tripoli, respectively for assistance and information.
Weeks of fighting in the suburbs of Libya’s capital Tripoli have killed at least 264 people and injured over 1,200, according to the World Health Organization. So far at least 35,000 people have been displaced due to the fighting, United Nations humanitarian coordinator for Libya Maria do Valle Ribeiro said last week.
Eastern-based strongman Khalifa Haftar had launched an offensive on the capital on April 4, as his self-styled Libyan National Army pledged “to purge the west of terrorists and mercenaries”.
