The situation in Libya, particularly in Tripoli, is deteriorating by the hour and crime is on the rise, according to Libyan citizens who spoke to this paper. 

The residents’ complaints came about as international news agencies have reported that gunfire and explosions were heard in the centre of Tripoli on Thursday.

Many of these residents said they now have to stay indoors as simple chores, like going out to do the shopping, could be dangerous. They have also reported that in the past few days the crime rate in the Libyan capital has soared. Thefts have become commonplace as necessary commodities, like fuel, have practically run out. Petrol stations, in fact, have been closed for more than a week. Fear has also gripped the city of more than two million.

AFP reported on Wednesday that, throughout the day, explosions could be heard from the centre of the capital and plumes of smoke were clearly visible. The news agency quoted a Tripoli resident as saying that “rockets fell on several homes and many families have fled the fighting."

Indeed, even Maltese nationals have claimed that the situation is much worse than the Maltese government is claiming. Noel Petroni, whose wife and children are stranded in Tripoli.

Commenting on The Malta Independent website on Wednesday, Mr Petroni said his wife had called him and told him that there was fighting just outside their doorstep. He could, in fact, hear gunfire over the phone. “At one point I was ever so shocked when I heard a loud bang and she told me it was a rocket missile.”

Mr Petroni claimed that when his wife contacted the Maltese Foreign Affairs Ministry she was told by an official that “it was her fault that she did not board the last Medavia flight.”

Later on during the same day, Mr Petroni’s wife phoned to tell him that she and the children were leaving Tripoli. “At 5pm I phoned her and she told me she was in a safer zone but the road out of Tripoli was hell, with burning cars and buildings. They even had a missile pass very close to them.”

He also complained that flights from Tunisia are heavily booked and that he had not been informed by the Foreign Affairs Ministry about two Medavia flights that brought people to Malta on Wednesday.

A Corinthia Hotels spokesperson, however, has insisted that both of the company’s properties – the Corinthia Hotel Tripoli and Palm City – are fully operational. The spokesperson said the company is in constant contact with the Maltese government, which is offering its “full support.” The official also insisted that the fighting was taking place some “20 to 30 kilometres south of the city.” 

More countries evacuating embassies

Apart from the situation in Tripoli, new clashes have erupted in the eastern part of the country. 9 persons were killed in fighting by rival militias in Benghazi on Wednesday, and 19 others were wounded. According to media reports planes were used in the attacks. Four Libyan Special Forces soldiers were killed in a twin suicide bombing on Tuesday.

The United Nations pulled its entire staff from Libya almost two weeks ago and many countries are following suit. The latest country to close its embassy and evacuate its staff was Tunisia, who has also urged all of its citizens to leave Libya.

Turkey is also considering closing its Tripoli embassy and has already urged all Turkish nationals to leave the country.

On the other hand, there are no plans for the Maltese government to pull its staff from Libya and both the Tripoli embassy and the Benghazi consulate are still operating, though their working hours are dictated by the security situation.

Partial airspace closure posing logistical problems

Despite the fact that there are no evacuation plans so far, the government has, through Medavia, organised flights out of the country. 53 Maltese nationals were among the 70 passengers flown out on Monday and this paper is informed that another flight will be organised in the coming days. A spokesperson for Medavia, Joe Formosa, said the company is cooperating fully with the Maltese government and is organising both government organised and privately chartered flights out of Libya.

Mr Formosa said, however, that the situation is fluid and complex. Medavia is using a number of airports in the relative vicinity of Tripoli, namely Mitiga, Misurata and Zuwara. But the company is facing some logistical hurdles as not all of the Libya airspace is open and usable airports might close at a moment’s notice, rerouting all air traffic to other landing strips. The security level in Libya is also constantly going up and down. Mr Formosa insisted that the safety of staff and passengers is the biggest priotity for the Maltese-Libyan company. He also confirmed that the company is operating ambulance flights to Malta.