Two weeks after Storm Daniel struck Libya, the scale of the damage is almost indescribable. The floods that followed left in their muddy wake a humanitarian crisis on a massive scale, particularly in Derna. An estimated 30 million cubic metres of water came roaring through the city when 2 dams in the nearby mountains collapsed. The torrent of water levelled entire city blocks and swept away whole families.
Critical infrastructure has been destroyed or damaged, affecting health, electricity, roads, telecommunications and other services. This latest catastrophe adds enormous pressure to Libya’s already fragile and severely compromised health system, with prior limited access for many to appropriate health care.
As well as addressing immediate health needs, WHO is actively engaged in assessing the long-term health requirements of the affected population displaced to temporary settlements and camps. Ensuring that they have access to essential health services as close as possible to their dwellings is a priority.
