While the West-led coalition forces have claimed initial success in substantially reducing the Libyan government's military capabilities after days of cruise missile attacks and air bombardments, there is evidence that the humanitarian disasters are getting worse in the North African country.

Media reports say at least 64 Libyans had been killed and 150 others wounded by the missiles and bombs fired by the coalition forces over the weekend. The majority of Libya's civil airports and seaports were destroyed.

On Tuesday, the United Nations Refugee Agency reported thousands of Libyans were displaced in the eastern parts of the country, as they tried desperately to flee from the recent heavy fighting. The bombing by coalition forces of Libyan targets will only increase this internal displacement.

Such an outcome runs counter to the spirit of the United Nations Security Council resolution 1973, which was passed on March 17 authorizing member states to enforce a no-fly zone in turbulent Libya to protect civilian lives.

Instead of being saved from domestic violence, the Libyan people are now facing ever-greater risks from the military actions of the different parties. It is only natural that the plight of Libyan civilians has prompted growing concern from members of the international community.

To prevent the humanitarian crisis in Libya from further escalating, an increasing number of countries and international organizations have raised their voices to criticize the West-led air strikes against Libya in the name of enforcing a no-fly zone.

China's Foreign Ministry stressed on Tuesday its opposition to any abuse of force causing more civilian casualties and more serious humanitarian disasters.

Russia called on the coalition to stop air strikes against non-military targets in Libya. India called for all parties to give up violence and the use of threat to resolve the differences. Officials from the Arab League, Germany, Brazil, Turkey, Iran and Bulgaria have also expressed similar concerns or criticisms this week.

It is time the coalition took all this into serious consideration. Otherwise they will find themselves losing international backing quickly if they insist military actions against Libya continue.

Given that the West has long boasted of its role as the world's human rights champion, the growing humanitarian crisis in Libya will only make it lose the moral high ground. The coalition should also bear in mind that there are no international norms supporting the use of force against a sovereign state in the name of stopping internal violence.

The international community should extend greater support to the diplomatic efforts of the special envoy of UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, the African Union and Arab League that aim to solve the Libyan crisis through peaceful means.

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