UNICEF is rushing more humanitarian supplies to aid children and families struggling to survive in northeastern Libya.
When disaster strikes, every minute counts
As the search for survivors continues in northeastern Libya, children and families caught in the path of catastrophic flooding caused by Storm Daniel remain in urgent need of emergency supplies and assistance. Current estimates indicate up to 35,000 people are internally displaced after their homes either flooded or completely collapsed. Families are being hosted by relatives or are sheltering in schools and public facilities. Over 6,000 are confirmed dead; nearly 10,000 remain missing.
In the immediate aftermath of the floods, UNICEF partnered with the Libya Red Crescent (LRC) Society to deliver prepositioned supplies — hygiene kits, medical supplies and essential clothing kits for children — and set into motion international shipments from UNICEF’s global supply and logistics hubs, including UNICEF Supply headquarters in Copenhagen, the world’s largest supply warehouse.
UNICEF’s Global Supply and Logistics Hub in Copenhagen runs around the clock to rush aid to those in need
The first phase of UNICEF’s international supply mobilization to Libya — 27 tons of medicines and medical equipment, high-performance tents and other vital supplies for children and families — includes:
- 71 medical kits (packed with equipment and medicine)
- 20 acute watery diarrhea (AWD) kits
- 25 high-performance tents
- 250 tarpaulins
- 100,000 water purification tablets
- 400 personal protective equipment (PPE) items
Access to safe water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) services remains a top concern in the aftermath of any natural disaster, to prevent the outbreak of a major public health emergency.
Donor support is needed to meet the urgent needs of children caught in Libya’s unfolding crisis
UNICEF Libya is working with partners to conduct a major needs assessment. In the days and weeks to come, UNICEF will be mobilizing more humanitarian supplies to support the health, education and psychosocial needs of children and families.
“The scale is quite unpredictable, to be honest,” Michele Servadei, UNICEF Representative in Libya, told CNN’s Becky Anderson. “The needs are massive … Our UN appeals need to be met with the appropriate resources … The donors need to look at covering those humanitarian needs, because if they don’t, nobody else will do it.”
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