Brussels (ANTARA News/AFP) - Around 650 Europeans are still stranded in Libya, many stuck in hard-to-reach places, the EU`s aid chief said Monday, voicing fears about the humanitarian impact of a looming "battle for Tripoli."

The humanitarian situation has "deteriorated significantly" over the last few days in the country as Moamer Kadhafi`s forces cracked down on a rebellion, said European crisis response commissioner Kristalina Georgieva said.

The number of victims is difficult to verify, she said, with various reports estimating the death toll at between 1,000 and 2,000 people since protests first erupted on February 15.

With 100,000 people having fled Libya into Tunisia and Egypt, Georgieva said the European Union was ready to send more aid to the borders if necessary to assist. The 27-nation bloc announced an initial donation of three million euros on Friday.

Of the 10,000 Europeans originally in Libya, many have been evacuated via flights from Tripoli and ships, but concerns have been raised about oil workers in desert installations.

The British military mounted daring air missions at the weekend to rescue foreign nationals stuck in remote desert camps.

"The not so good news is that those that are left in the country but want to be evacuated are, many of them, in difficult to reach areas, and that provides a difficulty," Georgieva said.

"The most recent data indicate that there are around 650 European nationals still asking to be evacuated, and coordination is ongoing to identify the best means through which they can be brought outside of Libya," she added.

Georgieva said she saw no need for the NATO military alliance to intervene to help with humanitarian efforts, although she voiced concerns about a potential worsening of the situation.

"We are facing increased insecurity inside the country, people fighting each other," she said. "The battle for Tripoli is the one that we are most worried about, what it would mean in humanitarian terms."
(Uu.M014)

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