At least 5,500 people have died and more than 10,000 are believed missing after Tropical Storm Daniel broke through two dams that protected Libya’s eastern coastal city of Derna from flooding. Experts estimate that the floods unleashed approximately 30 million cubic meters of water onto the city—the hardest hit part of Libya—washing away entire neighborhoods. Other cities in the northeast of the country have also been affected.
Derna is home to approximately 90,000 people and sits on the Mediterranean coast.
“The death toll is huge,” Tamer Ramadan, head of the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) delegation in Libya, said at a press conference in Geneva.
Humanitarian workers have pointed to ways to help victims of the flooding in Libya. Below, some of the charities working in Libya right now.
Islamic Relief Worldwide
Islamic Relief Worldwide has launched an appeal seeking financial support to help Libyans impacted by the floods. They are working with local partners on the ground to provide food, blankets, mattresses, and other aid to families. They have already committed an initial £100,000 ($125,000) to providing emergency assistance. You can find out more about how to donate here.
Libya in the UK
Libya in the UK is a charity run by Libyan young people living in Britain. The organization is collaborating directly with the Libyan Red Crescent, which is operating in the country. You can donate via their gofundme page here or learn more about the organization here.
The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies
The international Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent societies has been operating in Tripoli, Misrata, and Benghazi in the aftermath of the Libyan civil war, assisting with rehabilitation and economic support.
“#Libya is facing large-scale devastating disaster,efforts are huge but yet challenges and needs are way more beyond what current efforts can do. Support from all international actors to @LibyaRC and Libyan people is strongly needed now @ifrc stands ready to coordinate,” the IFRC’s Ramadan wrote in a post on X.
You can donate to the IFRC’s work in Libya here.
UNICEF
UNICEF is a U.N. agency that focuses on the wellbeing of children. The organization has so far supplied 1,100 hygiene kits, essential clothing for 500 children, and medical supplies for approximately 10,000 people in Libya. If you are interested in helping, you can click here.