The European Union on Friday approved the establishment of a humanitarian military mission for Libya, saying that it would stand ready to evacuate people from the country if the United Nations asks it to do so , dpa reported
Called EUFOR Libya, the operation is meant to "underpin" UN Security Council resolutions that have called for the protection of Libyan civilians, the EU Council said.
It is designed to "contribute to the safe movement and evacuation of displaced persons" and lend support to humanitarian agencies on the ground, according to the council.
The 7.9-million-euro (11.2-million-dollar) mission will be launched once the council approves its operations plan and conducted only at the request of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.
The operation, based in Rome and led by Italian Rear Admiral Claudio Gaudiosi, is to last no longer than four months unless the council decides otherwise