By Ebi Kesiena
Libya’s National Unity Government announced on Sunday that over 70 relief aircraft and eight ships of supplies have arrived in Libya from 24 different countries following the catastrophic floods.
The Netherlands allocated two million euros to assist Libya, focusing on the provision of food, medicine, shelter, and medical care for the affected residents, the governmental Emergency and Rapid Response Team said in a video press briefing published through the government’s Facebook page.
Also, Australia pledged to donate one million dollars to support the relief efforts. South Korea promised two million dollars for the United Nations relief program in Libya.
On 10 September, different Mediterranean countries were hit by Storm Daniel that swept through several regions in eastern Libya.
The cyclone led to the collapse of two dams, resulting in floods that washed away everything in their path.
Entire neighbourhoods of Derna, a coastal city with a population of approximately 100,000 overlooking the Mediterranean, vanished under the onslaught.
The cyclone also affected other major cities including Benghazi, Al Bayda, Al Marj, and Sousse.
According to a WHO report, 3,958 people in Libya are confirmed dead, and over 9,000 still missing.
Authorities in eastern Libya reported on Saturday that the cyclone had resulted in the deaths of over 3,800 individuals, emphasizing that this count was provisional as search and rescue operations for the missing and recovery of bodies continue.
However, while Libya’s National Unity Government’s Health Ministry stated that the death toll exceeds 6,000, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) has reported that the floods have displaced more than 43,000 people.
