SITUATION ANALYSIS
Description of the crisis
On September 10, 2023, northeastern Libya was struck by Storm Daniel, a severe weather system bringing winds of 70 to 80 km/h and an unprecedented rainfall of up to 240 mm. The storm impacted major urban areas such as Benghazi, Tobruk, Toukra, Talmeitha, Almarj, Taknes, Al Owailia, Bayada, Albayda, Shahhat, and Sousa. Derna, a coastal city, bore the brunt of the storm, suffering significant damage as a result of the collapse of its two dams. The resultant floodwaters, rising up to three meters, engulfed entire neighborhoods, sweeping them into the sea. The floods caused extensive damage to buildings, roads, health facilities, and water systems. In response, the Libyan Government in the east declared a state of emergency in Derna, formally requesting immediate international assistance on September 12, 2023.
As of November 28, a total of 4,352 people had been confirmed dead while around 8,000 people remained missing (OCHA). Around 884,000 people in five provinces (mantikas) live in areas directly affected by the storm and flash floods to varying degrees. (OCHA). Meanwhile, more than 43,400 people were internally displaced by the floods. According to ACAPS, before Storm Daniel, around 20,000 migrants lived in the most affected areas of Derna. An estimated 930 migrants died or went missing following the rainfall or floods, and as of November 17, floods had displaced 1,715 migrants. As internally displaced persons gradually return to their homes, they face challenges such as damaged housing and limited access to essential services.
Tropical Storm Daniel further complicated the existing situation in Libya, a country that manages complex population movements, with the presence of more than 706,000 migrants, including refugees and asylum seekers from around 43 countries; as well as people internally displaced since the 2011 Libyan crisis. The country's health system, already strained by a decade of conflict, has faced additional pressures. Low vaccination rates increase susceptibility to preventable diseases and soaring global prices due to the Ukraine crisis have severely affected Libya's food security.