Orphans to be placed under state protection following devastating Libya floods

By Muetaz Wannes and Gulsen Topcu

TRIPOLI (AA) — Children in the Libyan city of Derna who lost their families in devastating floods earlier this month will be placed under state protection, the East Libya-based government announced.

The state vowed to provide social and psychological support to every child covered by the decision, according to the measure taken on Friday by Osama Hamad, head of the eastern government that was appointed by the Benghazi-based House of Representatives.

Monthly allowances will also be granted to the children, along with suitable accommodations will be provided for them, while their education and medical expenses will also be covered, added the decision, published on the government's official Facebook page.

An expert committee to identify orphaned children will be established, with a deadline to complete its work within a month.

- Identification work underway for flood victims

Work to identify victims continues in Derna after Mediterranean storm Daniel struck eastern Libya on Sept. 10, leading to floods in several cities.

According to a separate announcement, Emirati disaster victims identification (DVI) teams are on the ground. Interpol's General Secretariat is also expected to send teams from other countries, said the Interior Ministry of the National Unity Government.

The ministry said it would be leading these efforts carried out in coordination with the Arab and International Criminal Police Office.

DVI experts include specialists in genetics, dentistry, forensic medicine, and other technical fields.

In the early days of the flood in Libya, many bodies were buried without being identified.

The Interior Ministry took photographs of the buried individuals and shared them on a special internet platform so their families could later identify them.

The bodies were buried after DNA samples were taken.

Nearly 4,000 people were killed in floods caused by Storm Daniel in Libya on Sept. 10, while more than 40,000 have been displaced, according to UN figures. The storm affected several cities, including Benghazi, Bayda, Al Marj, and Soussa, resulting in massive destruction of infrastructure and a significant loss of life.

Derna was hardest hit by the deadly flooding, causing the city's dams to burst, washing away homes and people. Over 8,000 people remain missing.

At least 59 relief cargo planes from 24 countries have landed in Libya to help those affected by the floods, the Libyan unity government said late Wednesday.

Libya's Tripoli-based High Council of State, which acts as a senate, demanded an international investigation Wednesday into the deadly floods.