TRIPOLI, April 26 (Xinhua) -- The UN-affiliated International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Friday that the fighting between the UN-backed Libyan government and the east-based army in and around the capital Tripoli has so far forced more than 38,000 people to flee their homes.
"There are now 38,900 displaced persons as clashes continue to rage in Tripoli, and more civilians are fleeing their homes," IOM said in a statement.
"IOM Libya DTM (Displacement Tracking Matrix) is tracking displacement daily as well as assessing the needs of vulnerable persons which is vital in ensuring an informed humanitarian response," the UN agency noted.
The east-based army, led by Khalifa Haftar, has been leading a military campaign since early April to take over Tripoli from the government.
The fighting so far has killed at least 270 and injured more than 1,300 others, according to the World Health Organization.
Libya has been struggling to make a democratic transition amid insecurity and chaos ever since the fall of former leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
