Sept 23, 2023. Posted by Balkan Periscope - Hellas
On Friday, the World Food Programme (WFP) announced its plans to expand its
support, aiming to reach up to 100,000 individuals in the storm-hit areas in
Libya.
The WFP highlighted severe disruptions in food supply chains, particularly in the city of Derna and its surroundings.
The United Nations (UN)-affiliated programme, stated that it has tapped
into previously stocked food reserves, in collaboration with its partner,
LibAid, to assist families directly affected by the Daniel catastrophe.
“We are working to expand the scope of support to reach 100,000 people in
the most affected areas,” it added.
Last week, the UN WFP issued an urgent appeal for donations to aid the
victims of the storm Daniel.
Notably, the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), revealed that
the recent floods in northeastern Libya, have forced an estimated 43,059
individuals to flee their homes.
In a recent report, the IOM said the scarcity of water supply has been a
driving factor behind the displacement of many residents from Derna. This shift
has contributed to a decrease in the overall number of displaced individuals,
within Derna itself.
As the situation develops, more displaced individuals are relocating to
eastern areas, such as Tobruk, where approximately 1,320 people have sought
refuge. Benghazi has also seen an influx, with around 730 seeking shelter
there. The majority of these are being hosted by relatives, and extended
families.
According to the IOM, field observers have reported that displaced families
from Derna are also seeking refuge in Tripoli, Misrata, Gharyan, and Qasr bin
Ghasheer. Many of them are temporarily staying with host families, who have
opened their doors to provide shelter.
On 10 September, a devastating storm swept through several eastern regions
of Libya, notably the cities of Derna, Benghazi, Al-Bayda, Al-Marj, and Sousse.
This resulted in significant destruction, and led to the loss of thousands of
lives, injuries, and missing individuals.
UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres called a flood that killed thousands
in Derna, Libya a “symbol of the world’s ills.”
“Even as we speak now, bodies are washing ashore from the same
Mediterranean sea where billionaires sunbathe on their super yachts,” Guterres
said in the opening of the 78th session of the UN General Assembly, on Tuesday.
“Derna is a sad snapshot of the state of our world – the flood of inequity,
of injustice, of inability to confront the challenges in our midst,” he added.
Libya
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