Help is urgently needed to support search and rescue efforts in the Libyan city of Derna following catastrophic flooding.
The mayor of the eastern port city announced on 14 September that estimated deaths could reach 18,000-20,000, saying teams specialising in recovering bodies are urgently needed.
The call for assistance came amid fears that the city would be hit with a second surge in deaths – this time from disease.
Reported death tolls vary widely, with the United Nations saying 6,000 people had been confirmed dead, while the Libyan Red Crescent placed the figure closer to 11,000.
Rescue efforts are ongoing but have been complicated by damage to road and communications infrastructure.
Islamic Relief is calling for donations to help provide emergency food and shelter to those affected and is working with local partners to deliver these essential items.
Fears of disease outbreak
5 days since floodwaters swept through Derna after Storm Daniel destroyed 2 dams in the area, the scale of the fallout from the flooding is beginning to emerge.
Bodies are continually washing up on debris-littered beaches after people, homes and vehicles were swept into the sea.
The UN released analysis showing more than 2,200 buildings in Derna had been affected by the flood, including many riverbank properties which have been completely washed away.
The analysis came as the UN warned that waterborne diseases posed a considerable threat to communities affected by the flooding, amid reports that safe drinking water is in short supply.
Vast parts of Derna have been completely destroyed and the city’s hospitals are struggling to cope, while the cities of Benghazi, Soussa and Al-Marj have also been affected.
Many families have lost their homes in the area, which already hosted more than 46,000 people who had fled their homes.
Political turmoil has hampered development over the last decade in Libya, which is split between 2 rival governments. The unrest has seen the international community gradually disengage with the north African state, meaning few large humanitarian organisations maintain a presence there.
However, teams from several countries in the Middle East and Europe have begun arriving to assist with relief efforts, while others have pledged to send support.
Islamic Relief’s response
Working closely with local partners, Islamic Relief has begun funding distributions of food, blankets and mattresses to families who have lost their homes. We have committed an initial £100,000 to provide this emergency aid.
“Lots of people are escaping the city, so Islamic Relief partners are starting to help people who have been displaced to a neighbouring town and provide them with food and basic emergency shelter. But the numbers are staggering and much more aid is urgently needed,” explains Islamic Relief’s Salah Aboulgasem.
Islamic Relief has also launched an appeal to assist disaster-stricken families in Libya, and deployed a disaster response team to the country to assess how we can further support communities affected by the catastrophic flooding.
Please help Islamic Relief reach families left vulnerable by the flooding in Libya at this time of great need. Donate to our Libya Floods Appeal now.
