The European Commission of the European Union (EU) said on Monday that the EU would strengthen its support to Libya by releasing €5.2 million in humanitarian funding, citing that fact that needs in Libya had been dramatically rising.
A statement by the European Commission indicated that the funding would be channelled through EU humanitarian partners active in Libya, enabling them to strengthen assistance with a focus on shelter, health, food, water, sanitation and hygiene, and protection.
“From the total amount, €200,000 are for the Disaster Response Emergency Fund of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in support of the Libya Red Crescent Society.” The statement reads, explaining that this new release brings the total humanitarian funding allocated for the emergency in Libya to over €5.7 million.
Storm Daniel and ensuing floods hit eastern coastal cities, especially Derna, Al-Bayda and Al-Marj, on September 10 and 11. Two dams collapsed in Derna valley – an area locally known as Wadi Derna -, washing away entire neighborhoods and killing a number of entire families. The flood torrent obliterated around a quarter or the Mediterranean city of Derna.
Meanwhile, the EU said it was continuing to provide in-kind assistance through the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, adding that so far, eight EU Member States had offered assistance to Libya (Germany, Romania, Finland, Italy, the Netherlands, France, Belgium and a new offer from Austria) via the Mechanism.
According to the statement, Emergency Response Coordination Centre has also deployed a team of experts and a liaison officer to support ground operations, in addition to making available environmental expertise.
Amid the aids pouring into eastern Libya, a group of Derna University teaching staff members has called for immediate provision of aids and necessary items for recovering the bodies from under the rubble in certain neighborhoods in the city.
