A historic building, that was destroyed during a three-year conflict, is seen in Benghazi, Libya February 28, 2018. (REUTERS File Photo)
TRIPOLI, May 24 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations Humanitarian Coordinator in Libya Maria Ribeiro on Thursday urged all parties to immediately allow safe access for humanitarian organizations to the eastern city of Darna.
The eastern-based army has been carrying out a military operation against militants in Darna since May 7.
"The humanitarian community in Libya is perturbed by the continued lack of humanitarian access and subsequent assistance into Derna despite repeated requests. Humanitarian actors have not been allowed to deliver life-saving assistance to Derna such as supplies to support medical facilities and other basic services as well as to provide food and non-food items to those in need," Ribeiro said in a statement.
"I call on all parties to immediately allow safe and unfettered access to Derna for humanitarian actors and urgently needed humanitarian goods," Ms. Ribeiro said. "We need to be able to assist people in need without delay to prevent further loss of life."
The army is launching a military operation to take over Darna, a city besieged by the army since 2015.
The army demanded that the Shura Council of the Mujahideen in Darna, a coalition of Islamist militias seeking to implement Sharia law in the city, leave.
Army commander, Khalifa Haftar, announced on Tuesday that the liberation of Darna from the extremists is "very near."