Flood kills, orphans thousands of children in Libya

Approximately 300,000 children have been affected by the devastating Storm Daniel that battered Libya on September 10 and caused destructive floods, according to the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF).

The risk of diseases like diarrhea and cholera spreading is high amid limited safe water supplies, the organization warned, adding that there are “immediate risks of death and injury” and “a severe risk to children’s health and safety,” especially in Al Bayda, Al Marj and in the coastal city of Derna, where thousands of dead bodies were shrouded in the streets because the morgues were overwhelmed.

“We know from previous disasters across the globe that the aftermath of floods is often more deadly for children than the extreme weather event itself. Children are among the most vulnerable and are at high risk of disease outbreaks, lack of safe drinking water, malnutrition, disruption in learning, and violence,” said Michele Servadei, UNICEF representative in Libya.

UNICEF added that at least $6.5 million is required to help and save families and children in the affected areas in Libya.

The number of children who died in this disaster has not been announced yet, but the overall death toll has reached more than 5,000 people, including children and women. Over 10,000 people are still missing in storm-stricken Derna.

Video footage was posted on social media showing how Libyan people were afraid of children being killed by the storm and floods. A video on X (formerly known as Twitter) showed a lady screaming to save her children after being trapped in a car submerged in the gushing floodwaters.

سيدة ليبية تستغيث لإنقاذ أطفال داخل سيارة مغمورة بالمياه في #ليبيا جراء #إعصار_دانيال pic.twitter.com/JziMDm5N2N

— المصري اليوم (@AlMasryAlYoum) September 11, 2023

Another Libyan survivor called for urgent help to recover the bodies of people and children buried under the rubble of buildings collapsed by the flooding.

"أطفال ونساء مدفونون تحت الأرض".. مواطن ليبي في #درنة يناشد الليبيين بحرقة للمساعدة في انتشال الضحايا من تحت الأنقاض التي جرفتها السيول #شاهد_سكاي #ليبيا #فيضانات_ليبيا #إعصار_دانيال pic.twitter.com/THYiR6iWcn

— سكاي نيوز عربية (@skynewsarabia) September 14, 2023

Another video on X showed groups of children crying and screaming about losing their parents in this disaster, while others shared toys of children who lost their lives in the floods.

قال تعالى: (وَمَا كَانَ لِنَفْسٍ أَنْ تَمُوتَ إِلَّا بِإِذْنِ اللَّهِ كِتَاباً مُؤَجَّلاً)صدق الله العظيم.
ربي يرحمهم ويغفرلهم وان شاء الله ربي يصبر قلوب الفاقدين يارب 💔
اطفال ليبيا تيتمو يالله اللهم لااسالك رد القضاء ولكن اسالك اللطف فيه 💔💔💔 pic.twitter.com/RtT1k7vgVv

— ABEER || عـبـير🇱🇾 (@AasBora) September 14, 2023