On Saturday, the General Commander of the Libyan National Army (LNA), Field Marshal Khalifa Haftar embarked on a helicopter inspection tour of areas in the Green Mountain and eastern shoreline, which have suffered extensively from recent flooding and torrential downpours.
In a statement, the LNA General Command noted that the tour “encompassed an on-ground assessment of various streets and districts in Derna.”
During this visit, Haftar engaged with locals, military personnel, and officers, as well as local and international search and rescue teams. His focus was on “reviewing the ongoing search operations throughout the city’s streets, and the affected regions.”
He expressed profound appreciation for the tireless endeavours of all military units, coupled with the commendable efforts of both local and international relief teams, and volunteers hailing from every corner of Libya. He underscored their “remarkable dedication and prompt action since the onset of the disaster.”
Notably, the Prime Minister of the Libyan Government-designate and the President of the Supreme Committee for Emergency and Rapid Response, Osama Hammad, has announced the allocation of an emergency budget for the rehabilitation and reconstruction of affected municipalities.
During a press conference held in Derna on Wednesday, relayed by the government’s media office, Hammad confirmed that search and rescue operations continue beneath the rubble and at sea. These efforts are being spearheaded by specialized teams from the armed forces, the Red Crescent, scouts, the public prosecution, interior departments, and both local and international groups.
Last week, 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.