Flooding in Libya due to passage of Hurricane Daniel
In the early hours of Sunday, Sept. 10, Libya was hit by Hurricane Daniel. The extreme rainfall led to the breaking of two dams, resulting in catastrophic flooding in the east of the country.
The town of Derna, where many residential houses were washed away along the river banks, was declared a disaster area. As the scale of the disaster became clear, the Libyan Red Crescent's emergency relief department reported that an estimated 20,000 people have been displaced and more than 9,800 are missing. According to authorities in eastern Libya, there are at least 2,800 dead and thousands injured. Unfortunately, these numbers are only expected to rise in the coming days.
The Libyan Red Crescent is working with local and other government agencies to provide assistance to those affected. A central emergency department has been established, and emergency and rescue teams have been deployed to provide urgent assistance, provide basic supplies and shelter to those affected, and provide necessary medical care to the injured. Belgian Red Cross-Flanders is closely monitoring the situation in Libya and reviewing with the Libyan Red Crescent on a day-to-day basis what assistance the affected region needs through the various phases of the rescue operation .
The affected population will need all the help they can get not only in the coming weeks, but also in the months to come. That is why Belgian Red Cross-Flanders is also opening the account number BE93 0000 0065 6667. Flemish people who want to support the victims can contribute to this account by mentioning'Libya floods'.
