The International Committee of Red Cross (ICRC) and the Red Crescent called on Wednesday to provide urgent psychological and social support to the city of Derna and other cities affected by the floods that struck the eastern region.
The Head of the ICRC and Red Crescent delegation in Libya, Tamer Ramadan, said in a statement more than a month after the disaster that the extent of the emotional and physical losses was enormous and the recovery process had not been over yet.
"The focus of aid is not only on immediate relief, but also on long-term recovery. Cultural norms favor financial independence, so cash assistance is essential.” The statement said.
The statement added that with the damaged sewage networks contaminating water sources in Derna, there was an increasing risk to the health of the residents, saying that the teams also focused on providing comprehensive psychosocial support, especially given the emotional impact of losing entire families.
