Prolonged conflicts in Libya disrupt health services

Prolonged conflicts in Libya's eastern city of Benghazi and the west of the country have displaced tens of thousands of people and disrupted health services, the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) said on Thursday.
The fighting has prompted tens of thousands of people to flee Benghazi, while many more have been displaced within the city, the ICRC said.
"Services at the main hospitals in Benghazi have been severely disrupted by the unsettled security conditions, the departure of foreign workers, and the acute shortage of medical supplies," said Antoine Grand, head of the ICRC delegation in Libya.
Grand added that the response capacities of the main hospitals and other health-care facilities were affected by fightings.
"There are frequent shortages of fuel, power and water supplies in the violence-affected areas; the prices of basic foods have soared, and infrastructure has suffered major damage," Grand said.
In addition, the security situation in some parts of the country has seriously deteriorated, making it extremely difficult for local and international humanitarian organizations to reach the victims.
Libya has witnessed a drastic escalation of violence since May when deadly clashes erupted between Islamist militants and pro-secular militias.
The deadly fighting in Benghazi and the west of the North African country has caused a humanitarian crisis.