On Thursday, Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Sameh Shoukry held a telephone conversation with his American counterpart, Antony Blinken. They emphasised the recent humanitarian challenges in Libya.
While the two officials highlighted the historic and strategic depth of US-Egypt relations, their discussions were majorly steered towards Libya’s current situation. Shoukry took the lead in detailing Egypt’s proactive measures and continuous support for relief efforts targeted towards the Libyan people, and the distressed Egyptian citizens residing in the country.
Both leaders reminisced about the long-standing ties between their countries, fortified by collaborations in the realms of economics, politics, security, and defence.
The FM’s also consulted each other on pivotal regional matters, notably the ongoing crisis in Sudan. Shoukry outlined Egypt’s efforts to address the political and humanitarian dimensions of the crisis in Sudan.
Shoukry revealed plans for Egypt to initiate a meeting of foreign ministers from neighbouring countries during the upcoming United Nations General Assembly in New York. Blinken, recognising the significance of Egypt’s role, expressed the US’ commendation for Egypt’s commitment to fostering peace and stability in the broader Middle East and Africa.
Storm Daniel, which recently hit eastern Libya, has so far claimed the lives of a staggering 11,000 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 numerous deaths and disappearances. Homes were submerged, and significant infrastructure damage was observed due to the Mediterranean storm, Daniel.
The death toll in Libya’s coastal city of Derna has soared to 11,300, as search efforts continue following a massive flood fed by the breaching of two dams in heavy rains, the Libyan Red Crescent said Thursday
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (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.
The flooding swept away entire families in Derna on Sunday night and exposed vulnerabilities in the oil-rich country that has been mired in conflict since a 2011 uprising that toppled long-ruling dictator Muammar Gaddafi.