A United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) assessment, conducted with its partners, on the impact of the storm Daniel floods in Derna and the Green Mountain areas of Eastern Libya in September 2023, reveals that approximately 67% of children exhibit negative behavioral changes since the disaster.
Furthermore, 48% of these children are in dire need of ongoing mental, psychological, and social support.
UNICEF highlighted the post-emergency repercussions in Eastern Libya following the storm, which led to the collapse of two dams on the night of September 9th, severely affecting the lives of residents.
The disaster not only altered the city’s landscape but also claimed thousands of lives, leaving deep scars in the community. Children, whose worlds were turned upside down in a matter of hours, were among those most affected by this catastrophe.
Before the storm, Derna was a place of joy and laughter for children, but the situation drastically changed afterward. The report shared stories of children like Nouria, who lost her father to the flood and was displaced from her home, struggling with grief and loss. Nouria recounted the fear and confusion of that night, saying, “the storm took my father, our home, and the sense of security I once felt.”
In response to the disaster, UNICEF, in partnership with the Scouts and Guides in Derna and funded by Japan, the United Kingdom, and Switzerland, launched a comprehensive mental, psychological, and social support initiative aimed at assisting affected children.
The organisation established 16 mobile teams to provide mental health and psychosocial services, prioritizing displaced children, those unaccompanied by guardians, and those directly affected by the floods. As a result, services reached 72,000 affected children through various ground partners.
Scouts and Guides team leader, Islam Senussi, emphasized their mission to reach children affected by the crisis, restore normalcy to their lives, and empower them to overcome trauma. UNICEF’s program focuses on creating safe spaces for children to express their feelings, engage in educational and recreational activities, and receive counseling from trained specialists.
Through fostering resilience and providing ongoing support, the organisation aims to ensure that children can overcome their grief, rebuild their confidence, and adapt to the new realities of their lives.
