WHO: Bodies of 3958 victims, due to “Storm Daniel” in Libya’s Derna, have been recovered…More than 9000 people are still missing

The World Health Organization (WHO) has revealed that Storm Daniel’s impact was compounded by the collapse of two dams that led to the deaths of thousands of people in the Libyan city of Derna, stressing that more than 9000 people are still missing.

It said that the bodies of 3958 people have been recovered and identified, and death certificates have been issued, pointing out that this number is projected to increase as more bodies are recovered by search and rescue teams.

“This is a disaster of epic proportions,” said Dr. Ahmed Zouiten, WHO Representative in Libya. “We are saddened by the unspeakable loss of thousands of souls. Our thoughts are with the families who have lost loved ones, as well as with all of the affected communities. We are committed to providing the necessary support to restore health services for the affected population in eastern Libya.”

He noted that 29 metric tonnes of health supplies arrived today in Benghazi, Libya, from the WHO Global Logistics Hub in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. With enough supplies to reach almost 250,000 people with health aid, the shipment reflects an intensified emergency response to the unprecedented flooding in eastern Libya in the aftermath of Storm Daniel.

Hamda Mustafa