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UN Agencies And Partners Respond To Flooding In Eastern Libya
Libya Flooding has struck northeastern regions of Libya. © National Meteorological Centre / UN
UN agencies and humanitarian partners have launched a response to address the disaster in eastern Libya, following rainfall that triggered flooding and resulted in a loss of life over the weekend, according to reports during a press briefing in Geneva on Tuesday, September 12, 2023.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has reported the latest figures, revealing that the floods, caused by Hurricane Daniel, have claimed the lives of over 5,000 people, with an additional 10,000 individuals reported missing. UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed condolences to the Libyan authorities and the affected families.
UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, briefing reporters in New York, expressed solidarity with the people of Libya during this time and confirmed that the UN is responding on the ground. Dujarric stated, "We are mobilizing resources and emergency teams to support those affected and are working with partners to provide urgently needed humanitarian assistance to the affected areas."
Furthermore, the UN is collaborating with Libyan authorities to assess needs and bolster ongoing relief efforts. However, the situation is complicated by Libya's political divisions, with two rival administrations in control.
According to the UN's World Meteorological Organization (WMO), storms caused the bursting of two dams over the weekend, resulting in the engulfment of neighborhoods in Derna. The floodwaters peaked in northeastern Libya on Sunday, September 10, 2023, accompanied by powerful winds reaching speeds of up to 80 kilometers per hour, disrupting communication and causing damage to infrastructure.
Rains triggered flash floods in several cities across the region, leading to a humanitarian crisis. Tamar Ramadan, head of the IFRC delegation in Libya, emphasized the enormity of the humanitarian needs, stating, "The needs are beyond the capabilities of the Libyan Red Crescent and even beyond the government's capacities. That's why the government in the east has issued an international appeal for support."
Margaret Harris, spokesperson for the UN World Health Organization (WHO), described the flooding as being of "proportions" and noted that the scale of the storm was unprecedented in living memory. WHO has deployed aid supplies to the affected areas, estimating that rain has impacted up to 1.8 million people and caused damage to hospitals. Dr. Harris emphasized the need for critical supplies such as body bags and trauma kits.
The Libyan Government has declared three days of mourning in the affected cities, designating them as "areas." Emergency responders, government personnel, and residents are working to search for survivors in the debris.
The second priority, as emphasized by Dr. Harris, is to assist the displaced population, many of whom were already living in circumstances. Plans include establishing field hospitals and mobile clinics to provide medical care.
The UN migration agency (IOM) has also raised concerns about the impact of the floods on the migrant population in Libya. With approximately 600,000 migrants present in the country, IOM spokesperson Paul Dillon noted that while some affected areas have migrant populations, access challenges have hindered a clear assessment of their situation.
The international community is rallying to provide relief and support to Libya as the nation grapples with this disaster.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) has reported the latest figures, revealing that the floods, caused by Hurricane Daniel, have claimed the lives of over 5,000 people, with an additional 10,000 individuals reported missing. UN Secretary-General António Guterres expressed condolences to the Libyan authorities and the affected families.
UN Spokesperson Stéphane Dujarric, briefing reporters in New York, expressed solidarity with the people of Libya during this time and confirmed that the UN is responding on the ground. Dujarric stated, "We are mobilizing resources and emergency teams to support those affected and are working with partners to provide urgently needed humanitarian assistance to the affected areas."
Furthermore, the UN is collaborating with Libyan authorities to assess needs and bolster ongoing relief efforts. However, the situation is complicated by Libya's political divisions, with two rival administrations in control.
According to the UN's World Meteorological Organization (WMO), storms caused the bursting of two dams over the weekend, resulting in the engulfment of neighborhoods in Derna. The floodwaters peaked in northeastern Libya on Sunday, September 10, 2023, accompanied by powerful winds reaching speeds of up to 80 kilometers per hour, disrupting communication and causing damage to infrastructure.
Rains triggered flash floods in several cities across the region, leading to a humanitarian crisis. Tamar Ramadan, head of the IFRC delegation in Libya, emphasized the enormity of the humanitarian needs, stating, "The needs are beyond the capabilities of the Libyan Red Crescent and even beyond the government's capacities. That's why the government in the east has issued an international appeal for support."
Margaret Harris, spokesperson for the UN World Health Organization (WHO), described the flooding as being of "proportions" and noted that the scale of the storm was unprecedented in living memory. WHO has deployed aid supplies to the affected areas, estimating that rain has impacted up to 1.8 million people and caused damage to hospitals. Dr. Harris emphasized the need for critical supplies such as body bags and trauma kits.
The Libyan Government has declared three days of mourning in the affected cities, designating them as "areas." Emergency responders, government personnel, and residents are working to search for survivors in the debris.
The second priority, as emphasized by Dr. Harris, is to assist the displaced population, many of whom were already living in circumstances. Plans include establishing field hospitals and mobile clinics to provide medical care.
The UN migration agency (IOM) has also raised concerns about the impact of the floods on the migrant population in Libya. With approximately 600,000 migrants present in the country, IOM spokesperson Paul Dillon noted that while some affected areas have migrant populations, access challenges have hindered a clear assessment of their situation.
The international community is rallying to provide relief and support to Libya as the nation grapples with this disaster.
Sep 14, 2023
