TUNIS, April 7 (Reuters) - A United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) humanitarian vessel reached the port of Misrata on Thursday, the body said, providing some relief to residents in the besieged Libyan city.
The vessel, carrying food, medical supplies, doctors and other relief items, docked in Misrata in the afternoon.
"This is a breakthrough for the U.N. humanitarian operation in Libya and allows us to reach tens of thousands of people who are caught in one of the fiercest areas of conflict," WFP Executive Director Josette Sheeran said in a statement.
As fighting between forces loyal to Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and rebels in Misrata continues, residents -- as well as thousands of migrant workers stranded there -- have faced shortages of basic foodstuffs, a lack of medical supplies and have only sporadic water and electricity.
The vessel, Marianne Danica, is carrying more than 600 metric tons of food including wheat flour, vegetable oil and high energy biscuits -- enough to feed more than 40,000 people for a month.
It is also delivering medical supplies on behalf of UNICEF and the World Health Organisation (WHO). Emergency health kits and surgical material will cover the urgent needs of 50,000 people for a month, WFP said.
Two doctors are on board and will disembark at Misrata.
(Writing by Marie-Louise Gumuchian)
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.
