Libya: Thousands still missing in aftermath of Derna floods
Thousands are still missing in Libya following a deadly natural disaster in Derna back in September, according to British newspaper The Guardian.
UNICEF, the United Nations’ Children Fund, noted that 8,500 people are still missing following a storm on September 10 which caused devastating flooding as two dams collapsed destroying huge swathes of the city. Al Jazeera reported a few days after the disaster that 11,300 people died as a result.
After weeks of extensive searches, it was reported on November 21 that only a small number of bodies swept out to the sea were recovered.
It is believed that around 6,000 migrants from Palestine, Syria, Sudan, and Egypt were in Derna during the flooding.
READ: Libya Flood: 6,000 dead, 10,000 missing, neighbourhoods gone
A Palestinian construction worker, Lu’ay Afifi has yet to be found alongside his wife and two daughters. Lu’ay’s sister, Sana’a, told agencies, “I have faith that my brother and his family survived this catastrophe, my husband and son went to Lu’ay’s home and there was nothing left of it. I’ve put their names on a list compiled by a committee in the Palestinian consulate in Benghazi dedicated to chasing those missing. Otherwise, I don’t know what else to do.” .
65 Palestinians were killed in the deadly scenes according to the consulate in Benghazi.
Ali Ashraf, a 25-year-old blacksmith from Egypt, is another from a migrant background still missing much to the dismay of his relatives back home.
The 25-year old’s sister, Samah, said,“The Egyptian Foreign Ministry and the Egyptian Red Crescent were in contact with us to gather his details.” .
Egypt’s Ministry of Social Solidarity announced that the government is giving 25,000 Egyptian pounds ($809) to citizens impacted by the flooding and 100,000 Egyptian pounds ($3,236) to the families of those who have been killed.
The Guardian/Al Jazeera
