In the wake of the severe flooding that wreaked havoc in Libya, Spain has stepped forward, donating €1 million (approximately $1.07 million dollars), as revealed by the country’s Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares on Wednesday.
“Libya is not alone in this tragedy; Spain stands in solidarity,” Albares tweeted.
The funds, he explained, will be funnelled through AECID, Spain’s leading agency for international humanitarian efforts, working hand in hand with global partners such as the IFRC (International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies), and the UN’s OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs).
Their joint mission is to bring relief to those affected by the floods, a grim reminder of our broader climate challenges.
Storm Daniel, which recently hit eastern Libya, has so far claimed the lives of over 6,000 individuals, with numerous others still missing. This torrential onslaught severely affected vital cities and regions, notably Derna, Benghazi, Al-Bayda, Al-Marj, and Soussa.
On Sunday evening, regions in eastern Libya experienced intense floods, leading to thousands of deaths and disappearances. Homes were submerged, and significant infrastructure damage was observed due to the Mediterranean storm.
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.
The IFRC announced on Tuesday that over 10,000 people remain missing, due to the floods and deluge witnessed in Libya over the past two days. The organisation anticipates a significant increase in the death toll.
AFP quoted Tariq Ramadan, an official from the organisation, saying, “The death count is massive, and could reach thousands. Independent sources confirm that the number of missing individuals stands at 10,000 so far.”
Since a 2011 uprising that toppled and later killed longtime ruler Muammar 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.