The civil war to take control of the Capital city Tripoli is claiming innumerable lives in the post-Gaddafi Libya. The worst affected people are non combatants, particularly the internally displaced people and migrants. The latest attack on the migrants has killed at least 40 people who were staying at a detention centre.? ?
According to AFP, about 70 were also injured in the ghastly attack on Tajoura.?
"This is a preliminary assessment and the toll could rise," emergency spokesman Osama Ali told AFP.
AFP
About 120 migrants were said to be detained at the place that was hit by the attackers. According to reports, there were dead bodies all around in pools of blood and belonging of the immigrants living there. The rescue team searched for survivors under the rubble.
In a statement, the internationally recognised national unity government (GNA) based in Tripoli denounced the attack as a "heinous crime" and blamed it on the "war criminal Khalifar Haftar".
Haftar, who controls much of eastern and southern Libya, in early April launched an offensive to take the capital.
The GNA accused pro-Haftar forces of having carried out a "premeditated" and "precise" attack on the migrant centre.
No one has so far claimed responsibility but pro-Haftar media reported Tuesday night a "series of air raids" in Tripoli and Tajoura.
AFP
The suburb of Tajoura, which has several military sites belonging to pro-GNA armed groups, is regularly targeted in air raids by Khalifa's forces.
The UN refugee agency said it was "extremely concerned" at reports of the strikes on the migrantcentre.
"UNHCR is extremely concerned about news of air strikes targeting Tajoura detention centre east of Tripoli, and accounts of refugees and migrants deceased," it tweeted.
"Civilians should never be a target."
Libya, wracked by chaos since the 2011 uprising against dictator Moamer Kadhafi, has become a major conduit for migrants seeking to reach Europe.
Rights groups say migrants face horrifying abuses in the North African country, which remains prey to a multitude of militias vying for control of the oil-rich country.
The plight of migrants has worsened since Haftar launched an offensive against Tripoli -- the seat of an internationally recognised unity government -- in early April.
Since then, fighting has killed more than 700 and wounded 4,000, while nearly 100,000 have been displaced, according to UN agencies.
Haftar's forces have pledged to intensify air strikes against their GNA rivals after losing a key town to unity government forces.
AP
The two rival camps accuse each other of using foreign mercenaries and enjoying military support, especially air, from foreign powers.
The UN's mission in Libya has said around 3,500 migrants and refugees held in detention centres near the combat zone are at risk.
UN agencies and humanitarian organisations have regularly voiced their opposition to migrants arrested at sea being brought back to Libya, where they are "arbitrarily detained" or at the mercy of militias.
Despite chronic instability, Libya remains an important transit point for migrants fleeing conflict and instability in other parts of Africa and the Middle East.