The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) confirmed Saturday that 150 people have been poisoned by polluted water in the flood-hit areas east of Libya.
The Centre quoted its head, Haidar Al-Sayeh, as saying that clean water was mixed with sewage sources during the storm that flooded the area last week.
He said that regular water supplies in Derna are unsafe for consumption and asked residents to seek alternatives.
"The Centre decided to declare a state of emergency for a full year in the areas affected by torrents and floods in the east of the country," the NCDC head noted, explaining that this measure comes to prevent the spread of any disease.
Al-Sayeh recommended dividing Derna into three sections, including a damaged, fragile, and safe one, indicating that such a division would help the relevant authorities address the situation on the ground.
He also confirmed that the vaccination centres in Derna are operating normally and are ready to function starting Sunday.
On Friday, the NCDC said that 55 children were poisoned in Derna after drinking from groundwater sources, which many dwellers rely on.
The floods triggered by Mediterranean storm Daniel have so far killed at least 3,000 people according to the health authorities in eastern Libya, though other official statistics reported more than 5,000 fatalities and 10,000 missing.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Friday that more than 38,640 people have been displaced in the most affected areas in northeastern Libya, including 30 thousand in Derna alone.
It added that the storm has also ruined buildings, roads, bridges, and water supplies.
