Egypt’s President, Abdel Fattah El-Sisi has conveyed profound condolences to Libya following the devastation caused by the Mediterranean storm, Daniel. This has reportedly resulted in thousands of casualties. El-Sisi reiterated Egypt’s solidarity, both by its government and people, with the Libyan nation during this painful ordeal.
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry also expressed its sincere condolences and solidarity with Libya. The storm triggered floods in the east of the country, leading to a significant number of victims and injuries.
Egypt offered its heartfelt condolences to the families of the victims and wished a swift recovery for those injured. Storm Daniel ravaged several eastern regions of Libya, notably the cities of Benghazi, Al-Bayda, Al-Marj, Sousse, and Derna, resulting in a significant toll.
Ahmad Amdourd, Deputy Dean of Derna’s municipality and a member of the Municipal Council, confirmed on Monday the registration of hundreds of victims and missing persons in the city. The city has witnessed almost a complete collapse of its main bridges and roads, complicating access. He pointed out that reaching Derna now involves taking a southern route, fraught with multiple challenges.
Cities in the eastern region are in a state of panic, exacerbating the living and humanitarian conditions in the country. This situation has worsened due to the onslaught of the storm, which caused a large number of deaths, injuries, displacements, and thousands missing.
Notably, Georgette Gagnon, the United Nations’ Humanitarian Coordinator in the region, has signalled the dispatch of an emergency unit. The storm led to significant infrastructure damage, loss of life, and flooding across multiple areas, especially in the Green Mountain region.
Gagnon voiced her profound distress about the calamity and the devastation it brought. Meanwhile, the UN’s leading representative in Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily rallied behind Gagnon’s sentiments, emphasising the United Nations’ full support to the affected communities.
In response to the catastrophe, national authorities have instated a three-day mourning period, symbolised by flags at half-mast throughout the nation, acknowledging the ongoing trials faced by eastern Libyan regions due to the relentless storm.