The EU yesterday decided to allocate €10 million to help alleviate Libya’s humanitarian needs, as it highlighted drinking water as the most urgent need in Tripoli.
The move comes as it announced the opening of a humanitarian office in the Libyan capital and the deployment of tens of experts aimed at coordinating the various ongoing humanitarian efforts on the ground.
European Commission officials said the shortage of potable water was becoming a major issue and it was following developments closely to ensure supplies were delivered in a timely and efficient manner.
“The disruption of normal water supplies is becoming a real problem for certain quarters of the city,” an EU official said.
“Our experts have identified the lack of drinking water as one of the most immediate issues to be tackled and we are asking member states to try to help out.”
Malta is one of the countries heeding this call and yesterday sent out 300 tons of water.
The aim of the new EU office in Tripoli, where there are still pockets of fighting between pro-Gaddafi and rebel militias, is to ensure the assistance given by the EU in health, medicines, food and drinking water is delivered expeditiously, and that fresh needs are identified and addressed immediately.
The EU experts are working closely with their humanitarian partners in the city, including the Red Cross and the International Organisation of Migration.
Commenting on the situation, Kristalina Georgieva, European Commissioner for International Cooperation, Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, said the EU’s major concern was for civilians in Tripoli.
“Our field experts are assessing the humanitarian situation and the fast-evolving needs in Libya’s most populated city,” she said.
“In their initial findings the experts point to the shortage of emergency health care provision and the disruptions of drinking water supply...,” she said.
“Safeguarding the safety of civilians is of utmost importance and a point of major concern in this volatile moment. I implore all sides to abstain from reprisals and to fully respect International Humanitarian Law,” the Commissioner said.
Humanitarian assistance to Libya will be one of the main issues on the agenda of a Libya summit to be held in Paris on Thursday that will be attended by many EU leaders, including Malta’s Prime Minister.
The EU will be represented by its two highest representatives – Commission president José Manual Barroso and European Council president Herman Van Rompuy.