Libya's recently-elected parliament based in Tobruk has declared the eastern city of Benghazi a "disaster area," citing a wave of "acts of terror" that had gripped the flashpoint city for months.
In a Sunday statement, the parliament declared Benghazi a "disaster area due to acts of sabotage and terror [taking place in the city], as well as the use of civilians as human shields which resulted in the destruction of public and private property."
"The conflict taking place in Benghazi between army forces and civilians on one end and terrorist militant groups on the other, which is resulting in human and material losses and making it impossible to provide services for citizens, has led us to declare Benghazi a disaster area," the statement added.
The parliament also urged "all Arab, international and local relief organizations to shoulder their moral and humanitarian responsibilities to rescue Benghazi", according to the statement.
It also called on the Libyan Red Crescent to provide safe corridors for civilians.
Libya has been dogged by political instability since the 2011 ouster and death of long-ruling strongman Muammar Gaddafi.
Ever since, rival militias have locked horns, bringing violence to the country's main cities, especially Tripoli and Benghazi. The central government, meanwhile, has remained largely absent from the scene.
The sharp political divisions have yielded two rival seats of government, each of which has its own institutions.
Two assemblies currently vie for legislative authority: the newly-elected House of Representatives, which convenes in Tobruk, and the General National Congress, which – even though its mandate ended in August – continues to meet in Tripoli.
The two parliaments support two rival governments, which have their headquarters in the two cities.
