Betwa Sharma
United Nations, Apr 17 (PTI) The UN has warned it is running out of funds to finance its relief operations in Libya and called on member nations to meet the USD 68.5 million needed to provide humanitarian assistance to the tens of thousands of people displaced by the conflict in the country.
So far, the UN has received USD 39 million, which has been spent or committed, according to Andrej Mahecic, spokesperson for the UN Refugee Agency.
"UNHCR is facing a critical shortage of funds for our operations in Libya and neighbouring countries," Mahecic told reporters this week.
"Unless funds are swiftly committed by donor countries, this shortfall will likely impact vital humanitarian assistance for tens of thousands of people displaced by the recent fighting," he added.
The UN said that as of April 13, 513,129 have fled the violence in Libya mostly into neighbouring Egypt and Tunisia.