As fighting between rebels and
government forces in Libya intensified, Pope Benedict XVI called for aid
and assistance to civilians caught in the conflict.
"Recent clashes have caused many deaths and an increasing humanitarian
crisis" in Libya, the pope said after praying the Angelus with pilgrims
gathered in St. Peter's Square March 6.
He expressed his concern over the growing crisis and said his prayers
were with all victims and "those who find themselves in distress."
"I appeal for assistance and aid for the people who are hit" by the crisis, he said.
More than 1,000 people were believed to have died in the two weeks after
pro-democracy protests began in mid-February. A violent crackdown on
the popular movement also triggered a large exodus of people, including
migrants; more than 100,000 people were said to have fled to Egypt and
Tunisia.
Rebels opposed to the 42-year rule of Col. Moammar Gadhafi tried to take
control of cities in the country's western and eastern regions, and
forces loyal to the Libyan dictator launched aerial bombing raids in a
counteroffensive.
Bishop Giovanni Martinelli of Tripoli, Libya, said there were clashes
"in the mosque after prayers in central Tripoli" March 4, but that most
of the capital is currently "well-guarded" by government forces.
However, "the situation is very uncertain and for the moment anything is
possible," Bishop Martinelli told Fides, the news agency of the
Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.
"In my view, the international embargo and threats are unlikely to convince the Libyan authorities to surrender," he said.
"I still believe in the possibility of dialogue to find a way out," he added.
Meanwhile, Catholic aid agencies mobilized to provide assistance to some
of the tens of thousands of foreign and migrant workers fleeing the
violence who gathered along the Libyan-Tunisian border.
A spokesman for Jesuit Refugee Service, which runs a major operation in
Malta for refugees from North Africa, said the agency was assessing how
best to respond to the crisis at the border.
Caritas Internationalis and Catholic Relief Services planned to start
distributing 2,000 meals and 3,000 bottles of water at the eastern
border March 7. The effort was expected to reach 5,000 people stranded
at the crossing into Salloum, Egypt.
The agencies planned to have their own distribution network established by March 10, said a CRS spokeswoman.
The effort is being coordinated by the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Organization for Migration.
Many of those fleeing from Libya into Tunisia at Ras Ajdir reported
being intimidated and having their mobile phones and cameras
confiscated. In all, more than 213,000 foreign workers have fled Libya
since mid-February when the uprising began.
The Associated Press reported March 7 that about 110,000 people had fled to Tunisia, 90,000 to Egypt and 3,000 to Niger.