Russia sends doctors, aid to flood-stricken Libya

By : AFP

Date: 17 September 2023 9:40am WAT

Members of the French Rescue Team gather upon arrival at al-Abraq Airport in Libya's eastern city of al-Bayda on September 16, 2023 to assist in relief work following deadly flash floods. - A week after a wall of water rushed through the Libyan city of Derna, sweeping thousands to their deaths, the focus turned to caring for survivors of the disaster. (Photo by Karim SAHIB / AFP)

Russia said it has sent 35 emergency doctors and humanitarian aid to eastern Libya, after the country was hit by unprecedented flooding a week ago.

“The ministry’s third plane with specialists… has landed in Libya. Around 35 employees of Russia’s Ministry of Emergency Situations will provide medical assistance to the population affected by the floods,” said the ministry in a statement on Saturday.

A mobile hospital has already been sent by Russia with operating theatres and an intensive care unit.

The 35 physicians will provide “qualified medical assistance” to “up to 100 people” per day at the site, the ministry said.

Two dams upstream from Derna, a city of about 100,000 people in the northeast of Libya, burst last week when hurricane-strength Storm Daniel struck the country, triggering tsunami-like flooding.

The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs on Sunday warned that the toll from Derna alone could be as high as 11,300, with another 10,100 people missing.