TRIPOLI, Nov. 8 (Xinhua) -- The Local Council of Libya's eastern city Derna on Wednesday called on the UN-backed government in Tripoli to urgently secure the entry of a relief ship carrying medical and food aid for the city.
"The council has coordinated with a number of cities, including Misurata and Tripoli, to organize a campaign to support the people of Derna by providing medical and food assistance to be delivered by a relief ship," Ramzi Sha'eri, head of the Council, told Xinhua.
"The seaport, like the city's roads, is completely besieged. It has been attacked by airstrikes several times previously. We are afraid to let the relief ship enter before securing its route to the port," Sha'eri said.
"We demand Fayez Serraj, the Prime Minister of the Government of National Accord, to take the responsibility for securing the ship and ensuring that it is not exposed to any military attack," Sha'eri added.
Unknown aircraft in October attacked parts of Derna, killing and wounding 47 people, including civilians.
The eastern-based army denied responsibility for the attack.
The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) condemned the airstrike, calling for "immediate and unimpeded humanitarian access and lifting restrictions on movement, especially for those needing medical treatment."
The army, led by General Khalifa Haftar, has been besieging Derna since 2015, and only allows entry and exit of residents in humanitarian and medical cases.
