WHAT IS HAPPENING IN LIBYA?
On Sunday, September 10th, a severe storm known as Storm Daniel hit the northeast coast of Libya. It brought over 15 inches of rain in 24 hours in a region that typically receives less than an inch in the month of September. The rainfall caused two dams to burst on the ordinarily dry Wadi Derna riverbed. As a result, a torrent of water overwhelmed the city of Derna, entirely washing away several neighborhoods.
As a result of the flooding, 20,000 people are feared to have died. Rescue operations are still underway. The UN also estimates that over 30,000 people have been displaced by the disaster.
ShelterBox is responding in Libya, supporting people whose homes have been severely damaged or washed away by flood waters, in partnership with ACTED.
People whose homes have been lost or damaged are sheltering together in school buildings. This is where we’re going to focus our efforts, and we’re looking at what support is needed – it could be blankets, gas stoves, or kitchen sets.
A ShelterBox response team is deploying to neighboring Tunisia this week to meet with our partners to confirm what is needed and what aid we’ll provide together.
Getting aid into countries where it’s needed after a disaster of this scale can be difficult, especially with damage to infrastructure and supply routes. Access to Libya for foreign nationals is challenging, so to support people, we’re partnering with ACTED, who were already working in Derna before Storm Daniel and have a good presence there.
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Main image credit: AFP via Getty Images