Egypt sends aircraft carrier to Libya for flood relief

By Ibrahim al-Khazen

ISTANBUL (AA) – Egypt on Sunday dispatched its Mistral aircraft carrier to Libya’s coast to provide emergency relief for people affected by deadly floods in its next-door neighbor.

The carrier will serve as a field hospital for the flood victims, Egypt’s state news agency MENA reported.

MENA said the dispatch of the aircraft carrier “comes in line with directives of Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to continue providing immediate support and humanitarian relief to Libya.”

The Mistral carrier is equipped with a medical unit and is capable of carrying out humanitarian missions on a large scale.

At least 11,300 people have been killed in Libya and thousands more are still missing following floods caused by Mediterranean storm Daniel, according to the latest figures by the UN Humanitarian Office (OCHA).

More than 40,000 people have been displaced across Libya’s northeastern areas by the deadly floods, the UN office said.

The eastern city of Derna was hardest-hit by the killer flooding after the city’s dams burst, washing away homes and people.

Following the quake disaster, Egypt declared three days of mourning in solidarity with Libya.

*Writing by Ahmed Asmar