The Regional Director of the World Health Organization (WHO) for the Eastern Mediterranean, Ahmed Al-Mandhari, has said that Libya is going through an unprecedented humanitarian crisis as the impact of Storm Daniel begins to unfold.
The storm has caused the most intense and worst floods the country has experienced in the last century, with massive and devastating damage affecting between 1.5 to 1.8 million people in eastern Libya, Al-Mandhari added.
Speaking to Sky News Arabia on Thursday, the WHO official underscored that all those affected by the floods are in dire need of urgent forms of support, primary health services, and life-saving interventions.
He also warned of the increased risk of water-borne and other diseases that occur under such conditions.
With the toll of deaths only increasing, the response teams are in urgent need of body bags, as well as basic living supplies for the survivors, Al-Mandhari explains.
According to his statements, the number of missing people rose from 5,000 to 9,000 as of Tuesday.
He highlighted that the floods cut off electricity and communication in the region, besides the destruction it caused to the infrastructure, public facilities, and vital roads.
Al-Mandhari confirmed that their office in Libya is in close contact with the local health authorities to identify the urgent needs, as he reiterated the organization's readiness to support the response efforts, "especially since the current catastrophic situation requires the solidarity of the donor community and all partners."
