ICRC establishes permanent office in Tripoli
The Swiss-run International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) has opened up an office in the Libyan capital, Tripoli.
A team of four specialists in health matters, logistics and detention-related activities will coordinate aid work in the west of the country and go back to the cities of Misrata and Zawiyah, a statement said.
The ICRC received permission to open its office from the Libyan government earlier this week.
The aid organisation plans to extend its activities to other regions.
The ICRC said that it had started distributing food and other items to about 18,000 displaced people in several eastern towns in cooperation with the Libyan Red Crescent.
Meanwhile, the Swiss church charity Caritas has announced it has doubled its contribution to SFr1 million ($1.1 million) for emergency aid projects for victims of the conflicts in North Africa.
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