'UK stands ready to provide assistance to Libya,' says foreign secretary

By Aysu Bicer

LONDON (AA) - UK Foreign Secretary James Cleverly on Tuesday extended his condolences to Libya over deadly floods and said his country is ready to provide assistance to the people of the North African country.

Cleverly’s remarks came as the region grapples with the devastating consequences of heavy rains and overflowing rivers.

"My thoughts are with all those affected by the catastrophic flooding in eastern Libya. The UK stands ready to provide assistance," he said in a statement.

"We are in contact with the Libyan authorities and the UN to urgently assess what support we can provide to help the Libyan people at this tragic time," he added.

The flooding, which has been described as one of the worst natural disasters in the region's recent history, has left communities inundated, displaced thousands of people from their homes, and caused widespread destruction to infrastructure.

The death toll from devastating floods in Libya’s eastern city of Derna has soared to 5,300, according to local authorities.

Initial reports indicate that dozens of villages and towns were submerged by floods amid widespread damage to infrastructure.

On Monday, Libya’s Presidency Council appealed to friendly countries and international aid groups to provide aid to the flood-stricken areas in the eastern region.