3.6 mln people could need aid in Libya: UN chief

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3.6 mln people could need aid in Libya: UN chief

DOHA: As many as 3.6 million people, or more than half of Libya's population, could need humanitarian assistance, UN chief Ban Ki-moon warned on Wednesday as the Libya contact group met in Doha.

On the political front, Ban urged the international community to "speak with one voice" on the crisis.

"Under our worst-case scenario, as many 3.6 million people could eventually require humanitarian assistance" in Libya, which has a population of six million, Ban told delegates before the session went behind closed doors.

"The humanitarian situation continues to worsen," he said.

"Approximately 490,000 people -- almost half a million people -- have left the country since the crisis began", according to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Ban said.

"On average, 2,700 people cross to Tunisia and Egypt every day. Roughly 330,000 people have been internally displaced," the UN secretary general told the first meeting of the contact group. (AFP)