CAIRO: International Aid Organization Emergency proclaimed that its medical staff has been ordered to evacuate Libya. As clashes between Muammar Gaddafi's military and rebel forces reached the threshold of Emergency's hospital in Misrata, the Direction declared they had no chance but leave the outpost. This decision comes after Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi showed his intention to increase Italian military participation in the Libyan crisis. So far, Italy had limited his support to the NATO mission by providing its bases in Sicily for the launching of French and NATO-led air strikes on Libyan cities and enforce a no-fly zone. The statement, tiled “Bombs do not protect civilians, in Misrata the massacre goes on,” Emergency denounced Berlusconi's declaration as violating the Italian Constitution and the spirit of the 25th of April, Italian National Unity Day. Emergency called for the cessation of armed conflict between the parts and the opening of a humanitarian corridor to guarantee timely and safe medications. In a prior communication, Emergency reminded readers that the protection of civilians in highly populated urban areas was sanctioned as priority by the UN Security Council Resolution n.1973, 17 March 2011. Nonetheless, since April 10, Emergency was the only aid organization working in the city. Misrata's population now lacks any form of assistance or protection. Under international law, troops must refrain from carrying out direct attacks to civilians, declared Amnesty International in a statement. Especially bombing densely populated areas with heavy artillery make it impossible to distinguish between civilians and rebels. BM
