UNITED NATIONS, Feb. 6 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations is concerned about the impact on civilians in Libya following recent bombardments that have killed at least one civilian and injured five others in Tripoli, a UN spokesman said on Thursday.
"The United Nations remains concerned about the continued impact of fighting in Libya on civilians," said Farhan Haq, deputy spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.
The rocket attacks and heavy artillery shelling in the Abusliem and Salaheddine districts of the Libyan capital continued on Wednesday, Haq said. Local schools in Abusliem are due to reopen next week.
"The United Nations reminds all parties of their obligations under international humanitarian law to take constant care to spare civilians and civilian infrastructure, including schools," he told reporters at a regular briefing.
Ongoing fighting in and around Sirte, following shifts in territorial control in the Sirte region in early January, is driving more people from their homes, especially in the frontline area of Abu Qurain, he said. Over 2,000 people have fled the area, according to the Libyan local crisis committees.
Humanitarian partners are supporting the national response by providing assistance, including food baskets, hygiene kits, blankets, mattresses and other non-food items to the displaced, including in Misrata, Houn and Al Jufra, the spokesman said.
On Monday, senior officers from the Government of National Accord, the UN-recognized Libyan government, and their counterparts from the Libyan National Army started talks in Geneva. On Tuesday, Guterres' envoy for Libya Ghassan Salame said they were willing to turn a recent truce into a permanent ceasefire.
