Saudi Arabia sends 1st relief plane to flood-stricken Libya

By Hussameldin Abdelgadir Salih Mohamed

ISTANBUL (AA) – Saudi Arabia on Saturday sent its first relief plane carrying food and shelter supplies for flood victims in Libya.

The plane is carrying 90 tons of food and shelter aid to be distributed to the flood victims in Libya, the state news agency SPA reported.

The plane is set to arrive at Benina International Airport in the eastern city of Benghazi to be delivered to the Libyan Red Crescent Society, SPA said.

On Friday, UN envoy to Libya Abdoulaye Bathily said the North African country “cannot face alone” the crisis caused by devastating floods.

In a statement, Bathily said the scale of damage and losses from the floods that badly hit Libya's eastern region "is beyond our collective imagination."

At least 6,000 people were killed and thousands of others remain missing following deadly flooding caused by Mediterranean storm Daniel.

Derna was the hardest-hit by the deadly flooding that caused two dams to collapse in the city.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 9,000 people are still missing, while the bodies of 3,958 people have been recovered and identified following the flood disaster.

*Writing by Ikram Kouachi