| Submit your comments on this article |
| Africa North |
| Fleeing civilians recount Sirte plight |
| 2011-09-15 |
| [Daily Nation (Kenya)] Civilians who managed to escape on Wednesday from territory around Moamer Qadaffy ...whose instability has been an inspiration to dictators everywhere... 's hometown of Sirte spoke of the growing plight of residents of the loyalist-held enclave. Throughout the day a trickle of families from villages around Sirte arrived in Sadada, 150 kilometres (95 miles) to the west and the first town firmly under the control of Libya's new rulers, an AFP correspondent reported. They had piled their belongings into their vehicles and abandoned their homes in the hope of avoiding the looming battle for one of the toppled despot's last strongholds. "They know that war is coming towards Sirte so they are looking for a safe place," said commander Omran Abdul Salam, adding that his men were checking the identities of passengers against a list of Qadaffy supporters suspected of having blood on their hands. The National Transitional Council (NTC) fighters said pro-Qadaffy forces had formed a crescent-shaped chain of tanks around Sirte itself concealed with shrubbery and manned by mercenary units to prevent civilians from fleeing and to parry any assault on the city. Those who live in the outskirts, however, were making a run for it. "We are scared about the rebel advance that will come towards Sirte," said Issa al-Waji, who lives in the village of Hisha, between Sadada and Sirte. "I've cried for days asking my husband to leave for Misrata," she told AFP. Tahail Saleh Munghuzi from the village of Wishka spoke of a growing health crisis in the pro-Qadaffy enclave. "People are sick and there are no doctors or medicine," he said. Little is known of the conditions in Sirte itself but judging by the reports from villages on the outskirts, the outlook is grim. "There is no water or electricity and all the shopkeepers have run away, afraid of the war, so life is hard," said Fadhi Abdel Salam Nawji, who also decamped from Hisha. The city is also suffering from an information blackout, with the local radio station churning out Qadaffy propaganda, he said. "He is broadcasting non-stop to terrify people. While many know Qadaffy is a liar, others are scared," said Nawji. The NTC fighters said Qadaffy's propaganda was aimed at persuading Sirte's population they were all Islamists and terrorists. |
| Posted by:Fred |