On Sunday, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) announced the rehabilitation of four primary medical centres in Derna, an eastern Libyan city devastated by deadly floods last year.
In a statement, UNICEF reported that it had collaborated with the International Medical Corps Libya to complete the rehabilitation of water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities in four primary health care centres located in Derna-Alfateeah, Albomba, Ras Alteen, and Lathron.
The upgrades included the installation of doors, windows, electrical works, and light rehabilitation. These improvements have restored and enhanced essential services that were previously non-functional, the statement added.
UNICEF highlighted that the rehabilitation efforts now provide approximately 10,000 people, including 4,300 children, with access to improved facilities. This development is expected to ensure better health outcomes and increase overall wellbeing within the community.
On 10 September 2023, a devastating storm swept through several eastern regions of Libya, notably the cities of Derna, Benghazi, Al-Bayda, Al-Marj, and Sousse. This resulted in significant destruction and led to the loss of thousands of lives, injuries, and missing individuals.
In March, World Bank, the United Nations (UN), and the European Union (EU) released a report marking six months since Storm Daniel struck eastern Libya in September last year.
The report indicates that the disaster affected approximately 1.5 million people, equivalent to 22% of Libya’s population.
Estimates suggest that the recovery and reconstruction needs following the catastrophic floods caused by the storm amount to around $1.8 billion.
The housing sector suffered the most significant damage, with over 18,500 residential units destroyed or damaged, representing 7% of Libya’s total housing units.
According to the World Bank, approximately 44,000 individuals, including 16,000 children, were displaced as a result of the storm.
In January, the Libyan Attorney General, Al-Siddiq Al-Sour, announced the results of investigations into the disaster of Storm Daniel. The storm claimed the lives of thousands in eastern Libya.
The investigations into the disaster in Derna revealed “negligence in maintaining the city’s dams,” characterised by the “absence of an alarm system in both dams and neglect of cleaning operations for upper openings, as well as routine maintenance.”
The total number of recorded deaths due to the floods in Derna has reached 4,540 people, including 3,964 Libyans and 576 foreigners.
