Storm “Daniel” has left a devastating path ashore in Libya’s port city of Darna.
The entire streets in Darna have sunk several meters deep in mud, convoys of vehicles are transporting the dead, corpses are floating in the nearby sea.
Thousands of people have died, more than 30,000 residents have become homeless in the particularly hard-hit port city of Darna alone, and thousands more in other cities in the country.
Two dams burst near Darna and entire quarters of the city with around 100,000 residents were washed into the sea. The river that divides Darna in half curves slightly east before flowing into the sea.
Libya is currently controlled by two rival governments. In Tripoli, Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeiba heads Libya’s internationally recognized government, whose supporters include Turkey and Qatar. Benghazi is ruled by Prime Minister Ossama Hamad, who is supported by the powerful military commander Khalifa Haftar.
Despite the power struggle, both governments have independently pledged to help with rescue efforts in flood-hit areas.
no successful collaboration had yet been achieved on Wednesday.
Turkey was one of the first countries to come to help: “The Turkish Civil Protection Authority of the Interior Ministry took immediate measures to deliver aid to Libya,” it said in a statement.
On Tuesday, 168 Turkish search and rescue workers were already on the move in Libya. The Turks also delivered two rescue vehicles, two lifeboats, numerous tents, blankets and food and hygiene packages.
Egypt , Algeria and Qatar also responded, and the United Arab Emirates sent two aid planes with 150 tons of urgent food, relief goods and medical supplies to eastern Libya.
The Italian Defense Ministry announced that it would send two military aircraft with firefighters and other rescue workers on board, as well as a naval ship.
The USA announced that it was in the process of coordinating with UN partners.
