The United Nations Support Mission in Libya warned on Monday that a disease outbreak in the country, where floods have caused more than 11,000 deaths, could create “a second devastating crisis”, where there are already reports of the spread of diarrhea.
In a statement, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya said it was particularly concerned about water contamination and a lack of sanitation after two barrages broke during the Mediterranean storm Daniel, which sent a wall of water to the eastern city of Derna, on 11 of September.
Some 11,300 city residents were killed and another 10,000 people were missing, presumed dead, the country’s Red Crescent said.
The mission said there are nine UN agencies responding to the disaster and working to prevent the spread of diseases, which could cause “a second devastating crisis in the region.” ~
The World Health Organization sent 28 tons of medical supplies to the devastated country.
Haider al-Saeih, head of Libya’s Center for Disease Control, said on local television on Saturday that at least 150 people suffered diarrhea after drinking contaminated water in Derna. No further updates were provided.
The disaster has brought rare unity to oil-rich Libya, which has been divided between rival administrations since 2014. Both are backed by international backers and armed militias whose influence in the country has increased since the Arab Spring uprising. backed by NATO overthrew the autocratic ruler. Muammar Gaddafi in 2011.
Residents of the neighboring cities of Benghazi and Tobruk have offered to take in the displaced, while volunteers search for survivors buried under the rubble.
Rival governments sent humanitarian teams to the port city and other affected areas of the country, but initially struggled to respond to the crisis.
Their efforts were hampered by poor coordination, difficulty in getting aid to the worst-affected areas, and the destruction of Derna’s infrastructure, including several bridges.
The Minister of Health of the eastern government of Libya, Othman Abduljaleel, stated on Sunday that his ministry had started a vaccination program “against diseases that usually appear after disasters like this”, but without giving more details.
As of Sunday, 3,283 bodies had been buried, Abduljaleel said, many of them in mass graves on the outskirts of Derna, while others were moved to nearby towns and cities.
Also today, UNESCO said it was concerned about the state of the ruins of Cyrene, an ancient Greco-Roman city located about 60 kilometers east of Derna.
“UNESCO is in contact with archaeologists on the ground and its satellite imaging team is also trying to establish what the damage might be,” the agency said in a statement to the Associated Press.
Cyrene is one of five UNESCO World Heritage sites in Libya.
Source: TSF
