Residents of the Libyan capital, Tripoli, found themselves filled with fear as they watched what they described as the “end of their children’s future.” Classes were halted after the outbreak of fierce militia clashes and reports covered raging fires turning over a million copies of education ministry school books into dust.
Bombardment by the Government of National Accord, headed by Fayez al-Sarraj, had targeted the ministry’s warehouses, destroying most of the itinerary.
Voicing concerns haunting the region’s residents, Tripoli local, Naser Abu Ramsi, said: “Citizens are facing total panic and are struck by anxiety over the future of their children.”
Earlier, the ministry announced suspending classes in nine schools close to the Mitiga International Airport, which was targeted by airstrikes.
In a phone interview with Asharq Al-Awsat, Ramsi recounts several incidents when violence interrupted education in schools. The United Nations, for its part, expressed its condemnation of over five million books being vanquished by a missile attack.
The UN humanitarian agency OCHA said targeting civilian facilities was a direct violation of international humanitarian law.
More than 18,000 people have been displaced by the fighting, 2,500 alone in the past 24 hours, the UN migration agency said. Nearly 150 people, mostly combatants, have been killed, the World Health Organization said. More than 600 people have been wounded.
The United Nations Libya mission UNSMIL also warned in a statement that “the bombing of schools, hospitals, ambulances, and civilian areas is strictly prohibited”, adding that it was documenting such cases for the UN Security Council.
“We are concerned at the mounting civilian casualties, we are concerned at damage to vital civilian infrastructure,” David Satterfield, US Acting Assistant Secretary for the Near East Affairs, told reporters in a conference call.
GNA education ministry representative Adel Jomaa confirmed the loss of five million copies alongside a valuable database that were stored at the ministry’s depots. Handicap International, a nonprofit organization, has described the situation in the war-ailed country as "tragic".
