Thousands of Libyans were reported to be displaced in the eastern parts of the country, trying desperately to run away from the recent heavy fighting, the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR) said here on Tuesday.
UNHCR said that internal displacement was reported in eastern cities such as Ajdabiya, Derna and Tubruk. Refugees who made their way to Libyan-Egyptian borders told the UN Refugee Agency that people in the region were terrified and dared not to go out after 4 p.m., for fear of reprisal attacks.
Nonetheless, a large number of refugees continued to flow toward Egypt. Egyptian authorities said that on Sunday alone, an influx of around 3,000 people was registered at its western border.
Shortage of medical supplies and basic commodities like food were also reported in eastern Libya. Prices for basic needs soared dramatically.
The UN Refugee Agency said to provide humanitarian assistance under current circumstances is "very challenging."
According to UNHCR, as of March 20, more than 323,000 people had fled Libya to evade the violence.