Abdullah Al-Lafi, Vice-President of the Libyan Presidential Council, welcomed Georgette Gagnon, the Deputy Special Representative of the UN Secretary-General and Coordinator of Humanitarian Affairs in Libya, on Thursday.
The meeting focused on discussing the evolving humanitarian situation, as well as the relief and rescue efforts in Derna and other cities that suffered the brunt of recent floods and torrents ravaging the region.
During the meeting, Al-Lafi emphasized the urgent need for swift UN intervention. He appealed for specialized rescue teams and international experts trained in flood disaster management to help save those trapped under rubble and recover victims. Al-Lafi underscored the importance of a unified crisis management approach and firmly rejected any political exploitation of this disaster.
For her part, Gagnon provided Al-Lafi with an overview of the measures the United Nations has already taken and the steps planned for the immediate future. She also affirmed the UN’s commitment to addressing all the concerns raised during their discussion.
Severe flooding and torrents have devastated parts of the city of Derna and other affected Libyan cities, resulting in dire humanitarian consequences. Local authorities are rallying international support to handle the aftermath and rescue those affected.
