As violent clashes grip Libya’s capital, UNICEF has issued a stark warning that nearly half a million children could be caught in the crossfire, with hospitals and residential areas turning into active conflict zones.
Fighting erupted on Monday night between rival factions loyal to Prime Minister Abdul-Hamed Dbeibah and the powerful Stability Support Apparatus (SSA), a militia aligned with the UN-backed Presidency Council. Among those involved was the 444 Brigade, one of Tripoli’s most prominent armed groups. The flare-up followed reports of the alleged death of SSA commander Abdul Ghani al-Kikli, known locally as “Ghaniwa,” though this has not been officially confirmed.
The violence quickly spilled into densely populated areas of the capital, cutting off access to critical services. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund, patients and medical workers were stranded for hours inside Tripoli’s Al Jalaa Children’s Hospital as gunfire echoed nearby. Emergency teams were unable to reach the facility due to the intensity of the clashes.
“Children are in shock,” UNICEF said in a statement on Wednesday. “They are experiencing intense psychological trauma, surrounded by chaos and cut off from support.”
The agency has called on all sides to uphold their legal obligations to protect civilians, especially children, under international humanitarian law and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. UNICEF urged for a sustained cessation of hostilities and for vital infrastructure to be safeguarded.
The Tripoli-based Government of National Unity declared a ceasefire on Wednesday after intense overnight fighting engulfed parts of the city, including residential zones. However, the security situation remains fragile.
Libya has struggled to find stability since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The country remains divided between two rival administrations: the internationally recognized government in Tripoli and a parallel authority in the east, based in Tobruk and supported by the House of Representatives.
As the political impasse persists, it is the civilian population—especially children—who bear the brunt of repeated cycles of violence. With schools, homes, and hospitals increasingly vulnerable, agencies like UNICEF are calling for renewed focus on humanitarian protections and political resolution.