29 May 2016 - Humanitarian Coordinator and Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya Ali Al-Za’tari strongly condemns the rocket shelling of the Benghazi Medical Centre (BMC).

The BMC is the city's main health centre and has come under random rocket fire several times in the past days, causing structural damage to parts of the hospital and placing patients and health workers at risk of death and injury. The BMC provides healthcare to almost half a million people. Damage to its infrastructure at this critical juncture will severely compromise health access for a large number of patients who are already vulnerable.

“I condemn these attacks on civilians, and urge all parties to the conflict to respect the non-military nature of hospitals and health centres across the country”, said Mr. Al-Za’tari. “Attacks against civilians, and in particular against hospitals, are in direct violation of international humanitarian law, amounting to an international humanitarian crime,” he added.