The city of Derna in eastern Libya is grappling with a major humanitarian crisis, as floodwaters have claimed over 5,300 lives, according to the Parliament-designated Interior Ministry.
In a statement on Tuesday, Mohamed Aboulmoush, the ministry’s Spokesman detailed that the death toll, a consequence of the severe Mediterranean storm that hit the region, has exceeded 5,300. Thousands remain unaccounted, with dedicated rescue teams working around the clock, searching for the missing and providing aid to survivors.
Highlighting the dire state of affairs, Aboulmoush urgently called for international collaboration and assistance. He emphasised the “magnitude of this unparalleled disaster” and stressed the need for “global cooperation to assist the victims of these unforeseen floods.”
Earlier today, the Tripoli-based Government of National Unity (GNU) announced that an aid plane carrying 14 tonnes of supplies and medical personnel is headed to Benghazi, although there are still difficulties entering the hardest-hit city of Derna.
Relief convoys are moving from west to east in divided Libya, as the GNU has declared the eastern region a disaster zone, and announced it would be sending help.
The Benghazi administration says more than 1,000 bodies have been retrieved in Derna.
On Sunday evening, regions in eastern Libya experienced intense floods, leading to numerous deaths and disappearances. Homes were submerged, and significant infrastructure damage was observed due to the Mediterranean storm, Daniel.
The storm caused devastating floods in Libya that destroyed dams, and swept away entire neighbourhoods in multiple coastal towns in the east of the nation. Over 2,000 people were confirmed dead.
Since a 2011 uprising that toppled and later killed long-time ruler Muammer Gaddafi, Libya has lacked a central government and the resulting lawlessness has meant dwindling investment in the country’s roads and public services, and also minimal regulation of private buildings. The country is now split between rival governments in the east and west, each backed by an array of militias.