International relief agencies and charity groups have stepped up the flow of humanitarian supplies—including medicines and food—to assist casualties, and tens of thousands of civilians displaced by the escalation of hostilities in Libya between government forces and opposition rebels.

The surge in aid includes efforts to distribute urgently needed medical supplies in cities where fierce fighting is ongoing, especially in the western part of the country, and where, according to some estimates, up to 700 000 people could have limited access to health services.

Aid groups are looking at various ways to dispatch urgently needed drugs …