Thousands leave homes as flash floods hit southwest Libya

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Fri, 07 Jun 2019 - 12:55 GMT

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Fri, 07 Jun 2019 - 12:55 GMT

The death toll from major floods swamping much of Iran over the past 15 days has risen to 62, according to Iranian Legal Medicine Organisation. ( Reuters)

The death toll from major floods swamping much of Iran over the past 15 days has risen to 62, according to Iranian Legal Medicine Organisation. ( Reuters)

Geneva, June 7 (MENA) - More than 2,500 Libyans have been forced to flee their homes after heavy rainfalls caused severe flooding in the town of Ghat, some 1,300 km south-west of Tripoli, according to the UNHCR, the UN refugee agency.

The rains, which started on 28 May, have already claimed the lives of four people, while thirty more are injured, the website of the UNHCR reported on Friday.

Many have been forced to move in with relatives, while others are sheltering in makeshift sites, such as schools and other community structures.

Rising floodwaters have caused severe material damage. Several main roads are blocked and damaged. Ghat’s only hospital has been flooded.

The telecommunications network has been disrupted for days. In some areas, houses and crops have been destroyed. People reliant on their farmland as their sole source of income are set to face major challenges ahead.

All 20,000 of Ghat’s inhabitants are now in need of humanitarian support. Shelter, food and basic items are urgently needed.

UNHCR has immediately dispatched core relief items including family tents, mattresses, blankets, drinkable water, kitchen sets, solar lanterns, plastic sheets and clothes for an initial 400 families.

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