UN fears spread of diseases in Derna and 'second devastating crisis'

By Al Mayadeen English
Source: Agencies
18 Sep 2023 16:04

30,000 residents are now homeless, and badly need clean water, food, and basic necessities as the agencies fear a growing risk of cholera, diarrhea, dehydration, and malnutrition.

A general view of the city of Derna is seen on Sept. 12, 2023, after the floods (AP)

After the floods from Storm Daniel left the city of Derna rubble-stricken and left thousands killed, UN agencies warned Monday that it faces the threat of disease outbreaks which could bring "a second devastating crisis".

30,000 residents are now homeless, and badly need clean water, food, and basic necessities as the agencies fear a growing risk of cholera, diarrhea, dehydration, and malnutrition.

The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) released a statement that "Teams from nine UN agencies have been on the ground delivering aid and support to those affected by Storm Daniel and the flash flooding for the last few days", adding that local officials, aid agencies and the UN World Health Organization "are concerned about the risk of disease outbreak, particularly from contaminated water and the lack of sanitation".

"The team continues to work to prevent diseases from taking hold and causing a second devastating crisis in the area," UNSMIL continued.

The head of the Libyan National Disease Control Center, Haider al-Sayeh, already confirmed last week that 150 children have been poisoned by contaminated water in Derna.

UN teams such as the children's UNICEF, refugee agency UNHCR, and World Food Programme have been joining efforts in the flood-stricken area to aid local authorities and survivors.

Salem Al-Ferjani, who serves as the director-general of the ambulance and emergency service in eastern Libya, stated in a report by The Guardian that access to the flood-affected parts of the town would be restricted exclusively to search and rescue teams.

According to UNSMIL, "Medical kits to primary care services to support 15,000 people for three months" have been delivered by UNICEF so far while the UNHCR distributed supplies like blankets, tarpaulins, and kitchen equipment to 6,200 displaced families in both Derna and Benghazi.

"So far food rations have been distributed to over 5,000 households through the World Food Programme, and 28 tonnes of medical supplies have been shipped by charter flight from the World Health Organization, which has also donated ambulances and medical kits."

This comes as an aid appeal for more than $71 million for the emergency response in Derna and other parts of eastern Libya was requested by the UN from the international community.