ICRC moves staff away from Libya fighting

The Swiss-based International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) says it has moved some expatriate staff away from the fighting as forces advance on rebel-held towns.

The ICRC, one of the few aid agencies deployed in Libya, said it was concerned about the safety of its personnel.

“For security reasons we have decided to move all non-essential staff in Benghazi a bit further back to Tobruk, near the border,” ICRC spokesman Christian Cardon told Reuters.

                                  

ICRC expatriate medical staff have withdrawn from Ajdabiyah, just east of Brega, where they had been supporting the hospital and local surgeons, Cardon said.

                                   

Forces loyal to Moammar Gaddafi launched air strikes on the rebel-held town of Ajdabiyah on Monday after moving east.  Gaddafi’s troops battled rebel fighters to reportedly gain control of the strategic oil town of Brega on Sunday.

                                   

ICRC President Jakob Kellenberger told reporters last week that Libya has descended into civil war with increasing numbers of wounded civilians arriving in hospitals in eastern cities.