Derna – In a significant move to bolster national crisis and disaster management capabilities, the Libyan Red Crescent has announced its preparation for the largest training exercise in its history, to be held in the city of Derna in collaboration with the Libyan Arab Armed Forces.
This initiative follows crucial support from the Deputy General Commander of the Armed Forces, Lieutenant General Saddam Haftar, aimed at enhancing the Libyan Red Crescent’s capacity to fulfill its noble humanitarian mission and respond effectively during emergencies.
The extensive drill is scheduled to take place on Saturday, September 27, 2025, in Derna and will run for seven consecutive hours. The exercise will simulate multiple crisis scenarios and will involve the participation of approximately fifty soldiers from the Armed Forces alongside Red Crescent teams, who have already begun to arrive in the city from across the country.
In a related development, the Secretary-General of the Libyan Red Crescent, Mr. Marei Al-Darsi, has launched an initiative to establish the nation’s first specialized disaster management team, the “National Disaster Response Team.” Al-Darsi confirmed that the team will be officially launched in the near future under his direct support and guidance.
To ensure the highest levels of coordination and effectiveness, the drill will be monitored by a sophisticated central operations room connected to thirty-eight of the organization’s branches throughout Libya. The operations room will also be linked with all relevant agencies in the fields of ambulance services, disaster, and crisis management, marking a qualitative leap in the country’s emergency response framework.
The choice of Derna as the location for this exercise carries profound symbolism. The city, which witnessed a devastating humanitarian catastrophe two years ago, now stands as a testament to the importance of preparedness and readiness. This event serves as a message of solidarity with the people of Derna and a reaffirmation of the lessons learned from the past to ensure a faster and more effective response in the future.