Libyan authorities have recovered the body of a young girl who went missing in the coastal city of Brega, after intensive search efforts lasting more than 12 hours, officials said.
Abdullah Al-Maghrebi, head of the Ambulance and Emergency Service in Brega, confirmed that the body of Sidra Ali was found on the city’s shoreline on Sunday morning. He said search operations began the previous night and involved wide participation from security agencies, rescue teams, and volunteers.
Al-Maghrebi noted that the operation received logistical and technical support from Sirte Oil Company for Production and Manufacturing of Oil and Gas. Residents of Brega also played a major role, joining search teams to help trace the missing child, who was diagnosed with autism.
Libyan Prime Minister Osama Hammad offered his condolences to the family of Sidra Mohamed Al-Zawawi through an official statement. He expressed sympathy to the grieving family and praised the efforts of rescue teams and citizens who took part in the search operation.
The incident has sparked renewed discussion about public awareness surrounding autism. Aziza Al-Tabouli, Director of the Mental Health Department at the Ministry of Health, urged society to show understanding and compassion towards families of children with autism, particularly during times of tragedy.
According to Libyan News Agency (LANA), Al-Tabouli explained that autism is a developmental disorder that affects a child’s ability to fully control behaviour. She said children with autism are often drawn to water and may wander long distances without recognising surrounding dangers, a behaviour known as “elopement”.
She stressed that such incidents should not be attributed to parental negligence, describing them as part of the nature of the condition rather than a failure of care. Al-Tabouli called on the public to avoid blame and instead provide emotional support to affected families.
The tragedy has revived memories of a similar case in Benghazi, where an autistic child was found dead in a lake after going missing earlier this year. Both incidents have highlighted the need for greater community awareness and preventive measures to protect vulnerable children in Libya.
