Health Ministry of the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord (GNA) called on Italy to facilitate procedures for obtaining short-term visas to the EU country for Libyans injured in the capital clashes to receive treatment.
It came during a Monday meeting between Undersecretary of the Ministry of Health Mohamed Issa and the Italian ambassador to Libya Giuseppe Buccino, where they discussed the possibility of opening Italy’s airspace for Libyan air ambulances.
Issa sought the approval of the Italian side to grant the entry visa for wounded Libyans upon arrival at the airport, according to the ministry’s statement.
He highlighted the strong relations between the two countries and the GNA’s keenness to develop and boost these ties, the statement added on Facebook.
The ministry did not give any details about the Italian response in the meeting which was also attended by the Libyan minister of foreign affairs and other senior officials.
On Thursday, GNA Prime Minister Faiez Al-Sarraj met with Buccino, and both agreed on providing medical treatment for fighters under the GNA military command in Italian hospitals.
The GNA since early April has been defending the Libyan capital against the east-based Libyan National Army (LNA) aiming to seize control of the city.
The clashes caused the death of over 600 people and inflicted injuries on hundreds of people, including civilians.
