Situation in Libya remains 'catastrophic' after floods: UN official

By Peter Kenny

GENEVA (AA) - The situation in Libya after the floods is “catastrophic,” and the level of destruction is “unfathomable,” with thousands of people needing urgent help, a UN official said on Tuesday.

"I have been a humanitarian worker for 19 years, and this is among the worst disasters I have witnessed," Rana Ksaifi, assistant chief of the UN mission in Libya, said in a news conference in Geneva.

"The level of destruction is unfathomable: I saw houses that had sunk, with buildings, shops, hospitals, and schools almost completely submerged," he added.

According to the UN Humanitarian Office (OCHA), at least 3,958 people have died across Libya due to flooding, revising its previous death toll of 11,300.

More than 40,000 people have been displaced across Libya’s northeastern areas by the deadly floods triggered by Storm Daniel just more than a week ago, according to the International Organization for Migration.

Ksaifi said that around 50,000 refugees and asylum seekers are registered with UNHCR in Libya, including over 1,000 living in the affected areas before the floods.

"Additionally, some 46,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) were hosted in eastern Libya before the floods, including 2,800 in Derna and 3,100 in Ajdabiya," said Ksaif.

The disaster has triggered new displacements, with many of those affected already displaced, and they, once again, find themselves left with nothing.

An estimated 30,000 people are displaced in Derna alone, and at least 3,000 in Ajdabiya, Ksaif said.

Christopher Laker, the UN Development Program’s acting resident representative in Libya, said: "Derna is facing severe challenges with limited access to it right now as the floods destroyed the main entrances and bridges to the city.

"Our priority is the safety and well-being of the people of Derna and affected areas through the restoration of basic services and support to municipalities and local authorities and increased coordination with them as UNDP."

He said that access to the affected areas remains relatively limited as authorities prioritize search and rescue and, ultimately, recovery of the dead.

"Some are still under collapsed buildings, and others are still out at sea," said Laker.

The UN official said the focus is now on assessing the most urgent needs of the affected communities, including providing access to clean water and shelter and addressing immediate concerns.