UN calls for over $71M to respond to deadly floods in Libya

UNITED NATIONS

The UN aid agency, OCHA, on Thursday called for $71.4 million to respond to the most urgent needs of thousands of people affected by the deadly floods in Libya.

“The scale of the flood disaster is ‘shocking’ with entire neighborhoods having been wiped off the map and whole families, taken by surprise, swept away in the deluge of water,” said UN aid chief Martin Griffiths.

At least 6,000 people have been killed and thousands remain missing from weekend floods in eastern Libya, according to officials.

Torrential rains swept through several regions, most notably the cities of Derna, Benghazi, Al-Bayda, Al-Marj, and Soussa.

About 884,000 people have been directly affected by the storm and flash floods in Libya, according to OCHA.