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United Nations (AFP) April 20, 2011 The United Nations has no plans to seek European Union troops to protect humanitarian corridors in Libya, as it fears threats to aid workers who could be linked to the soldiers, a top UN official said Wednesday. "Not at the moment, we are able to get in using civilian means," UN humanitarian chief Valerie Amos told a press conference about the prospect of seeking EU troops. Amos joined private aid agencies in expressing concern about the "blurred lines" between humanitarian and military operations. Moamer Kadhafi's regime has warned that it will put up "armed resistance" to any attempt to get soldiers into Libya to protect humanitarian deliveries. The EU has told the United Nations that it has troops ready when needed. The UN humanitarian chief said the United Nations has an agreement with the European Union and NATO to, if the security situation warrants it, "call on them for support of military assets," Amos said. "But we are not at that point yet," he said, adding: "It is difficult but we are able to do it." Amos said there is always a problem when states, such as European nations enforcing a no-fly zone over Libya, also want to be involved in the humanitarian effort which must remain "impartial and neutral." The lives of humanitarian workers and the aid are risked, she added. "The government has said absolutely clearly that it will stop any attempt to use humanitarian assistance or aid to support military efforts. So we have to be extremely careful about that and try as much as possible to ensure that those lines do not get blurred," Amos said. Amos said a UN humanitarian team could arrive in Tripoli as early as this weekend, following an accord she signed with the Kadhafi government this week. She called the besieged city of Misrata, where hundreds have been killed in recent weeks, a key concern but added that the UN needs access to other Libyan cities as well. Other aid groups have urged the UN to hold back from seeking EU military help with Oxfam insisting that the use of EU troops should only be a "last resort." "We're definitely not at this point in Libya, and all other options must be looked at before Brussels should be allowed to go ahead with its plan," Jamie Balfour-Paul, Oxfam's Middle East spokesman said.
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Britain sending military advisers to LibyaLondon (AFP) April 19, 2011 Britain said Tuesday it is sending military advisers to help organise Libyan rebels, even as western powers denied they could soon break their taboo against putting foreign boots on the ground. The announcement came as France strongly warned against sending any coalition troops into Libya, where a two-month revolt against Moamer Kadhafi's regime has stalled and civilian casualties are mounti ... read more |
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