Reference :
V-P-LY-E-00423
Date :
18/09/2023
Caption :
Derna. The ICRC and the Libyan Red Crescent provide an emergency assistance to the thousands of households affected by the flooding. Accessing the impacted areas is particularly difficult as many roads are destroyed.
Person appearing :
FRIDEZ, Yann (chef de délégation Tripoli, CICR)
Confidentiality level :
public
Publication restrictions :
publication without restrictions
Description :
"Thousands of families in northeastern Libya are reeling from “violent, brutal” floods in the wake of Storm Daniel and the collapse of two dams near the city of Derna.
"Entire neighbourhoods were washed away by metres of water. While the total number of people affected is still not completely clear, hundreds are believed to have died, with many more missing and displaced from their homes.
"A major challenge for humanitarian action is access to the flood-hit areas, as roads have been seriously degraded or destroyed. It also comes on top of years of conflict and violence. Unexploded ordnances and abandoned munition stores could also pose an additional challenge to residents, emergency responders, and authorities. The ICRC is already sharing its expertise in the management of mortal remains and restoring family links, working closely with LRCS to support their plans to search for the missing.
"The ICRC has been on the ground in Libya since 2011 and is now mobilizing teams and life-saving supplies to support survivors together with our partner the Libyan Red Crescent (LRCS) in the most flood-affected areas. We have offered our expertise in the management of mortal remains and restoring family links, working closely with LRCS to support their plans to search for the missing. So far we have been able to:
- Donate close to 6000 body bags, management of the dead kits and technical support. We are on our way to deliver, medicine, food, and non-food items to families affected by the floods. Medical support to affected health facilities will also be provided.
- Work closely with the LRCS to search for the missing. People deserve an answer, each hour without news adds to the suffering. A team was sent to reinforce our work in forensics.
- Donate medical items to Al Hawary hospital in Benghazi which is the focal hospital dispatching medical support to the flooded areas. We are also providing medical equipment and essential medicine to the health authorities.
- Dispatch a forensic specialist and other experienced staff in Benghazi.
- Provide expert training to the LRCS on the use of emergency water and sanitation equipment that we handed over to them."
Source: ICRC website, article 13/09/2023.
--
"Additional ICRC teams are being sent to the region to distribute humanitarian assistance. The ICRC is also strengthening its forensics team in Benghazi as it distributes 6,000 body bags to help authorities and the Libyan Red Crescent Society ensure dignified treatment of the dead.
"“This disaster was violent and brutal. A wave 7 metres high wiped out buildings and washed infrastructure into the sea. Now family members are missing, dead bodies are washing back up on shore, and homes are destroyed. The city faces immense emotional trauma,” said Yann Fridez, the head of ICRC’s Libya delegation, which had a team in Derna to support families with micro-economic activities when the floodwaters overwhelmed the city.
"Kitchen sets, mattresses and hygiene items are to be distributed in Derna in coming weeks jointly with the Libyan Red Crescent Society. Medicines are also being donated to authorities and Libyan Red Crescent in coming days.
"A major challenge for humanitarian action is access to the flood-hit areas, as roads have been seriously degraded or destroyed. The ICRC is also evaluating the risk posed by unexploded ordnance and abandoned munition stores in Derna, an additional challenge to residents, emergency responders and authorities now working to alleviate the hardship.
"“It’s heartening to see a sense of unity among the population and authorities who are uniting to provide as much assistance as possible. But this is a long road now. It will take many months, maybe years, for residents to recover from this huge level of damage,” Mr Fridez said."
Source: ICRC website, press release 14/09/2023.
Original material :
digital
Resolution :
4032x3024
Orientation :
landscape
Colour/B&W :
colour
