A blitz interview of Novinite.com (Sofia News Agency) with Hristo Grirogov, Chair of the Bulgarian Red Cross with respect to the humanitarian situation in Libya caused by the civil conflict between the regime of Muammar Gaddafi and pro-democracy rebels. Mr. Grigorov spoke to Novinite.com in his personal capacity as a humanitarian expert.

Based on the information that you have, how would you describe the current humanitarian situation in Libya?

The information that we have about what is going on in Libya comes from the international media. People around the world see on international news channels and on the Internet the shocking images of Libyan towns and cities and of Libyan and foreign refugees. This is something totally unacceptable for the 21st century.

I have already commented in my personal capacity that the humanitarian situation is really grim and worsening. I have always, always stated that ever the worst peace is better than any kind of war, however just it might be considered by those involved in it.

I just hope that there will be peace on the ground as soon as possible so that the humanitarian problems in Libya can be addressed.

As a humanitarian expert, from your point of view, what is the most important thing when reacting to humanitarian crises of such character?

The most important and first and foremost thing is to have one center that coordinates all actions. Individual, wayward actions of states or organizations are by far not the best solution in such situations.

That is why the International Red Cross as an organization, for example, has its International Committee in Geneva which synchronizes our actions.

Then, as far as the EU is concerned, there is the very important office of Bulgarian EU Commissioner Kristalina Georgieva in charge of its humanitarian aid and crisis response policies which was introduced a year ago.

The International Red Cross has already talked to her about coordinating our aid within our expertise and capacities. In addition to that, the Bulgarian Red Cross is also coordinating its efforts with the Bulgarian Foreign Ministry.

How can Bulgaria help alleviate the humanitarian situation in Libya?

We can help a great deal as part of the EU, the European family, and its projects and policies in that respect.

As far as the specifics of delivering humanitarian aid supplies or accepting refugees, for example, these are decisions that have to be made by the Bulgarian leadership on the political level. We, as a national organization, will support the humanitarian efforts of the Bulgarian government.

The International Red Cross Committee in Geneva is already talking of a civil war in Libya. You have commented that the situation is probably really grave, what do you expect that international relief units may find on the ground in Libya?

Any kind of violence is totally unacceptable – that is why I already stated – the worst peace is better than any war.

The way I personally see it – and what I said about the situation developing from a humanitarian crisis into a humanitarian catastrophe - I am not speaking on behalf of the Red Cross but in my personal capacity – is that hundreds of thousands of people have already been displaced by the civil conflict.

That is why my call is to put an end to the violence as soon as possible. The longer the civil conflict continues, the harder it will be to not just to rebuild the communities but also to breed life into a real civil society after that.

The international community is already moving rapidly to pressure those involved in order to discontinue the conflict, and I hope that this will happen as soon as possible. What we see happening in Libya is totally unacceptable from the point of view of any human values.

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