UN concerned about food access in Libya

"WFP is concerned about access to food inside Libya," WFP said, citing a survey conducted among refugees staying at a camp on the Tunisian-Libyan border. The Rome-based UN agency said it had heard reports that the price of flour in Libya has more than doubled, while that of rice has increased by 88 percent, that of vegetable oil by 58 percent and that of bread by over 110 percent.

It was also reported that 95 percent of shops in the cities of Zawiya, Misurata and Sirte - where much of the fighting between government forces and those opposing Moamer Gaddafi has taken place - were closed.

WFP said it had stepped up its provision of food to hungry people crossing Libya's borders. To date the WFP has also moved more than 1,500 tonnes of food into eastern Libya and has prepared more than 6,000 tonnes more in emergency supplies.