The United Nations support mission in Libya called on all sides in the northeastern city of Derna to exercise the greatest levels of restraint and take all precautions to protect the civilians. It stressed in a statement all sides to commit to International Humanitarian Law and respect human rights to ensure that the civilians are protected. This includes ensuring that aid is allowed unhindered access into the city and that residents are allowed to safely evacuated the embattled city. The UN said that escalation in Derna had reached unprecedented levels over the past week as the battles approached dense residential areas. It noted a shortage of food and medicine, adding that some 125,000 residents do not receive adequate electricity or water. The Libyan National Army has been besieging Derna since July 2017. LNA commander Khalifa Haftar launched on May 7 an operation to liberate the coastal city, home to about 150,000 people, of terrorists. Haftars forces entered the citys suburbs last week and have tightened the noose on their opponents with the help of air strikes and heavy artillery. Four Libyan leaders, including Haftar, agreed Tuesday to hold elections on December 10 after a peace conference in Paris aimed at unifying the war-torn north African nation. The UN has been pushing for a nationwide polls as a key way to stabilize Libya.