TRIPOLI - As the unrest in Libya increases, hundreds of Italians have been evacuated from the country.

 Despite there being no official evacuation order, in light of increasing tension and hostility in the country, any Italians wanting to leave Libya, which is on the brink of a new Civil War, are able to do so “under protection.”

 According to the Italian Ministry for Foreign Affairs 100 Italians have fled the country in the last few days: “as the situation in Libya becomes worse, the Foreign Minister, Federica Mogherini, has established a plan to protect compatriots who are in the areas most at risk.”

 The Foreign Ministry has announced that evacuation has taken place over land via Tunisia, and has been aided by dedicated aircraft arranged via the Crisis Unit, with the cooperation of the Air Force flying out from Pisa.

 At the request of other foreign governments, Italy is also charged with evacuating people of other nationalities from Libya. The American Embassy in Tripoli has been evacuated and other EU countries, including Great Britain, Holland, Germany and France, have advised any nationals currently in Tripoli to leave as soon as possible.

 The Italian Embassy in Tripoli is still “open, available and contactable” but the Ministry for Foreign Affairs website has updated its safe travel recommendations, strongly warning against travel to Benghazi or Cyrenaica and to avoid travelling to the capital.

 Both the Italian Embassy in Tripoli and the Crisis Unit are working together to monitor Italian presence in the country and the situation at large, and officials say that Italy is providing the utmost care to protect Italian and local interests in Libya.

 The Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has denied that Italy has decided to send seven fire-fighting planes into Libya to tackle blazes at gas and oil plants, after they were hit by missiles in the fight over Tripoli airport. News of the country’s decision to send in fire-fighting aircraft was reported in a statement from Tripoli which was diffused via an interim Libyan government.

 Italy is continuing to look at all available options for helping Libya, by virtue of its commitment to the country, taking into account great technical difficulty and the fact that the area in question has been subject to military fighting since July 13.