The European Commission said in a statement on Wednesday that the EU Civil Protection Mechanism had been activated to support Libya in the aftermath of the major flood that has left thousands of casualties, saying that the activation came following Tuesday’s request for international assistance by the Permanent Mission of the State of Libya to the United Nations office in Geneva.
EU Member States – so far Germany, Romania, Finland – have immediately offered substantial assistance in the form of shelter items such as tents, field beds and blankets, 80 generators, food items, as well as hospital tents and water tanks via the Mechanism.
“The EU’s Emergency Response Coordination Center stands ready to coordinate further offers of assistance.” The statement added.
In the meantime, the EU released an initial €500,000 in humanitarian funding to tackle the most urgent needs of people in Libya affected by the impact of Storm Daniel.
“Funding will be channelled through partners operating on the ground to deliver lifesaving health and water and sanitation supplies for the flood response in eastern Libya.” The statement reads.
Storm Daniel hit eastern coastal cities, especially Derna, Al-Bayda and Al-Marj, on Saturday. Two dams collapsed in Derna valley, washing away entire neighborhoods and killing entire families. The flood torrent obliterated around a quarter or the Mediterranean city of Derna.
The death toll of the calamity has not been verified yet as bodies are still surfacing and flowing out of the sea after they have been ebbed by tidewater because of the torrents from Storm Daniel.
