Attachments
SITUATION OVERVIEW
On 10 September 2023, Storm Daniel hit northeastern Libya, with winds of 70 to 80 km/h and record rainfall of up to 240 mm. The coastal city of Derna bore the brunt of this devastating weather system, with its dams sustaining heavy damage. This led to floodwaters rising to three meters, submerging entire neighbourhoods, and sweeping them into the sea. The storm affected major population centres including Benghazi, Tobruk, Toukra, Talmeitha, Almarj,
Taknes, Al Owailia, Bayada, Albayda, Shahhat and Sousa.
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), 4,352 people lost their lives and more than 8,000 are still missing as of 31 October. More than 43,400 people have been internally displaced, leaving 7,000 families stranded. This disaster worsened an already challenging situation as eastern Libya was already home to 46,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) and numerous migrants.
Communication and power lines were in ruins, as videos shared on social media and by the Libya Red Crescent Society (LRCS) show. These videos reveal submerged cars, collapsed buildings, and torrents of water surging through the streets.
Following the event, the Libyan Government in the East declared a state of emergency and has called on medical personnel and medical assistants to go to the port city of Derna. The Libyan parliament has also appealed to the international community and all humanitarian actors in the country for support.
This powerful storm exacerbated existing challenges and added new layers of complexity to the preexisting situation. Following the 2011 crisis, Libya has been grappling with complex population movements, involving over 706,000 migrants, refugees, and internally displaced people (IDPs). Storm Daniel exacerbated these challenges, affecting numerous displaced persons and migrants.
As more IDPs gradually return to their homes, they continue to face obstacles such as damaged residences and restricted access to essential services. Additionally, forced expulsion of migrants have increased sharply, raising serious human rights concerns.
Moreover, women and girls in Libya remain at significant risk of gender-based violence (GBV), exacerbated by factors like fear, social stigma, discrimination, and a scarcity of services, especially in remote regions. Despite diminished large-scale hostilities, explosive remnants of war, including landmines and improvised explosive devices (IEDs), also pose an enduring threat, necessitating ongoing efforts to identify and mitigate risks.
EMERGENCY APPEAL REVISION
LRCS and IFRC note the generosity and solidarity from the international community to support those impacted by Storm Daniel, especially as the Emergency Appeal launched on 14 September 2023, is projected to reach its original funding targets. During the first weeks of the operation, humanitarian needs were predominantly tied to search and rescue efforts, as well as to the delivery of immediate life-saving assistance. The situation has evolved, and new needs and interests have been identified, necessitating new capacities.
This revised Emergency Appeal reflects this understanding and builds on available assessments and analyses. In addition to the scaling up of activities described in the recently released Operational Strategy, this revision includes:
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increased attention to recovery and resilience planning and implementation
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National Society capacity strengthening
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security management enhancement
The severity of needs is likely to continue to evolve, with additional complexities and scenarios arising based on how recovery progresses in the medium and long-term. Ultimately, strengthening the capacities of LRCS, a respected and trusted humanitarian institution in the country, is foundational and will reduce loss of life and suffering of the Libyan people when faced with contextual changes. Based on current assessments and anticipated needs, the Federation-wide funding requirement of this Emergency Appeal has been increased from CHF 10 million to CHF 25 million, to effectively and consistently respond to the ongoing and medium to long-term recovery needs on the ground.