In the aftermath of the devastating storm “Daniel”, the World Health Organization (WHO) made a critical announcement this Saturday: a significant shipment of medical supplies has reached the city of Benghazi in Libya. These supplies, dispatched from WHO’s Global Logistics Centre in Dubai, form part of a comprehensive emergency response to the unprecedented floods that have ravaged Eastern Libya.
According to an official statement by the organization, these medical aids are adequate to serve nearly 250,000 individuals. They encompass essential medications, trauma treatment supplies, emergency surgical equipment, and body bags to ensure safe and respectful transfer of the deceased.
Highlighting the magnitude of the catastrophe, the WHO statement revealed a staggering figure: over 9,000 individuals from Derna remain unaccounted for. To address this grim scenario, WHO teams are collaborating with Libya’s Ministry of Health to track down the deceased and the missing. So far, the remains of 3,958 individuals have been retrieved, identified, and officially registered. However, as search and rescue teams continue their operations, this count is expected to surge.
Dr. Ahmed Zweitin, WHO’s representative in Libya, conveyed the gravity of the situation, stating, “It’s a calamity of epic proportions. Our hearts go out to the families who have lost loved ones and to all affected communities. We are steadfast in our commitment to provide the necessary support to restore health services for the impacted population in Eastern Libya.”
The recent shipment, amounting to 130 cubic meters, marks the second dispatch by WHO, following an initial consignment of 29 metric tons of emergency medical supplies from the organization’s reserves within Libya.
Adding perspective to the crisis, the International Organization for Migration in Libya announced just yesterday that over 38,640 individuals have been displaced from the worst-hit areas in Northeast Libya due to the hurricane “Daniel”.
The devastating impact of hurricane “Daniel” last week resulted in the tragic loss of over 5,000 lives, with many still missing. Both the Government of National Unity and the government appointed by the Libyan House of Representatives declared three days of mourning. Flags are at half-mast across public and private institutions in memory of the flood and landslide victims in Eastern Libya.
