Date: Apr 26, 2019 Source: The Daily Star Residential areas of Libya capital turning into 'battlefields': ICRC Aid groups sue France to stop boat donation to Libya's navy Reuters TRIPOLI: Intensified fighting for control of the Libyan capital is turning residential areas of Tripoli into "battlefields," the International Committee of the Red Cross said Thursday. "The humanitarian situation in and around Tripoli has deteriorated sharply over the past three weeks," since military strongman Khalifa Haftar launched an offensive on April 4 against forces loyal to the internationally-recognized Government of National Accord (GNA), the ICRC said in a statement. "More than 30,000 people are said to have fled their homes and are sheltering with relatives or in public buildings," it said, a figure which Libyan authorities and the United Nations say has risen to almost 35,000. "Tripoli's basic services and infrastructure, such as hospitals and water pumping stations, which have already suffered from violence over the past eight years, are being weakened further," it said, referring to the insecurity in Libya since the 2011 uprising that ousted Moammar Gadhafi. Youness Rahoui, the head of office in Tripoli for the ICRC, singled out the impact of the violence, which has focused on Tripoli's southern suburbs, on residents of the capital. "One of our greatest concerns is for civilians living near the frontlines. Densely-populated residential areas are gradually turning into battlefields," Rahoui said. He also said it was becoming "increasingly dangerous for medical workers to retrieve the wounded, with mounting reports of indiscriminate shelling." At least 278 people have been killed and more than 1,300 wounded in the clashes, according to the latest casualty toll from the World Health Organization. Forces loyal to the GNA, which is based in Tripoli, launched a counter-attack last weekend. Aid groups sue France to stop boat donation to Libya's navy Associated Press PARIS: Aid groups are suing the French government to stop the donation of six boats to Libya's navy, saying the watercraft will be used to take migrants to detention centers notorious for horrific conditions. Europe has relied heavily on the Libyan coast guard, which is part of the navy, to intercept migrants bound for Europe and return them to the detention centers, where disease is widespread and migrants say they face routine abuse. Conditions have deteriorated further in recent weeks as fighting has erupted between rival militias. The U.N. says some 3,600 refugees and migrants are detained near the front lines. The lawsuit filed Thursday by eight aid groups seeks a stay on the boat donation, saying it violates the European embargo on Libya and makes France complicit in the abuse.