Running Starving: The Undesirable Situation Of Libyan Refugees
Clashes between rebels and loyalists in Libya have placed tremendous strain on an already impoverished food delivery system, states Reuters. Ships from the United Nations’ World Food Program have been turned away from loyalist ports, as Col. Moammar Gadhafi is using food shortages as a weapon against famished rebels. The United States and U.N. are undergoing Libyan humanitarian aid efforts at this time. Source of article – Libya needs food: The struggles of humanitarian aid by MoneyBlogNewz.
Refugees will, says Gadhafi, ‘invade Europe’
Gadhafi can be considering a compromise according to reports about the anti-Gadhafi rebels and Gadhafi loyalists fighting. Still, Gadhafi has said multiple times that death is the only way he would be willing to leave his post. Gadhafi has warned that if he falls, a large number of Libyan refugees will “invade Europe,” reports Reuters. Reportedly, tens of thousands have already fled into Tunisia, although that country is also politically unstable.
As hospitals in rebel-held cities like Misrata are drastically short of supplies – and rebel areas in general face food shortages – Gadhafi’s prediction that an enormous wave of refugees will throw themselves upon the mercy of any country that can offer humanitarian aid might prove to be an accurate one. Military analyst Shanshank Joshi of Britain’s Royal United Services Institute told Reuters the rebels do not have the upper hand, even though their fighting skills are “reasonably competent.”
“Government forces have more mobility than the rebels thanks to airlift and a decent amount of road transport,” said Joshi.
Aid to Libyan refugees comes from United Nations
U.N. aid coordinator Valerie Amos knows that more than 1 million fleeing Libyans need humanitarian aid, and that number increases daily as skirmishes drive individuals from their homes. The U.N. has considered Misrata along with other rebel towns to be high priority with a 300,000 population before the fights started.
“Humanitarian organizations need urgent access now,” said Amos. “People are injured and dying and need help immediately.”
A no-fly zone was set over Libya by United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. She also said that Libyan refugees can count on $10 million in U.S. aid. Anybody who wants to donate privately can. The U.N. World Food Program is where really, this ought to be done.
Libyan economy needs fixing
Agriculture is difficult to sustain in Libya, writes Christopher Albon for The Atlantic, so the nation has to import much of its food. Libya war areas have seen a 50 to 75 % increase in food prices. This has led to a food shortage panic. The seaport of Benghazi is where the United States could supply food to the rebel side of Libya in accordance with Albon. Obama would look good making this decision. It would also keep the U.S. military out of it all.
Citations
The Atlantic
theatlantic.com/international/archive/2011/03/how-food-could-determine-libyas-future/72097/
Army Times
armytimes.com/news/2011/02/ap-clinton-us-sending-aid-forces-near-libyan-borders-022811/
Reuters
reuters.com/article/2011/03/07/us-libya-protests-idUSTRE71G0A620110307?pageNumber=1
World Food Product
wfp.org/donate/fillthecup_getinvolved
The Telegraph
telegraph.co.uk/news/wikileaks-files/libya-wikileaks/8294883/HEAD-OF-LIBYAS-ECONOMIC-DEVELOPMENT-BOARD-U.S.-LIBYA-RELATIONS-NOT-JUST-ABOUT-OIL.html
U.S. Embassy in Tripoli, Libya (via Wikileaks) Al Jazeera reports: Using food as a weapon in Libya
youtube.com/watch?v=OfF7DmCGhmU
