CAIRO – 23 September 2023: Storm Daniel struck north-eastern Libya earlier this month bringing deadly floods that left thousands dead, injured or homeless. Subsequently, Egypt has continued to lend Libyan brothers a helping hand.
The catastrophe comes while Libya has already been mired in a conflict over the past decade with numerous failed attempts to put an end to the crisis.
This came shortly after a powerful 6.8 magnitude earthquake hit southern Morocco, causing widespread damage in villages and killing around 3,000 people.
Egypt, Libya’s eastern neighbor, has sent tons of food and relief aid to Libya and dispatched rescue and medical crews to help in the aftermath of the crisis.
Amid the tragedy, President Abdel Fatah El-Sisi held a meeting with a number of commanders of the Egyptian Armed Forces, instructing the delivery of humanitarian aid, rescue teams and equipment, as well as camping gear to Libya and Morocco by both air and sea.
On the same day, Egyptian Chief of Staff Osama Askar arrived in Libya, accompanied by 25 rescue teams as well as three military jets carrying food and medical supply, to express solidarity with the storm-hit country.
Egypt declared three days of mourning over the victims of the powerful earthquake and storm in Morocco and Libya respectively.
Later, Sisi ordered establishing camps within the Western Military Zone to receive the victims of the floods in Libya.
Sisi also ordered dispatching an Egyptian Mistral-class helicopter carrier with tons of aid and skilled medical teams. According to the Armed Forces, the step aims to "alleviate the burden on our brothers in Libya.”
The president also inspected the lining-up of assistance equipment heading to Libya, ordering the relief teams to do their best in mitigating the repercussions of the humanitarian catastrophe in the sisterly country.
The Gamal Abdel Nasser Mistral carrier 102 containers, including medical supplies.
On Thursday, the Armed Forces said the Mistral-Class carrier has continued to unload tons of food and relief aid. The aid has been handed to the Libyan authorities to be distributed to people in afflicted areas.
Furthermore, the carrier received a number of patients in its hospital, which is equipped with the latest medical equipment and a team of skilled doctors.
Meanwhile, Egyptian search and rescue personnel also continued their efforts to recover bodies and rescue the injured in the affected areas.
The Egyptian relief camp in Martouba area near the city of Derna also received a number of citizens affected by the floods, where all aspects of medical and humanitarian care were provided.
Reconstruction of Derna
Heavy floods that struck Libya caused two dams to break, devastating the Derna coastal city in Africa’s deadliest storm on record.
Last week, Acting Prime Minister of Libya Osama Hammad met with representatives of Egyptian firms in Libya to deliberate on the reconstruction plans for Derna.
Hammad emphasized the urgent need to commence reconstruction work in Derna and its surrounding areas, following the conclusion of search operations.
In this regard, Foreign Minister of the Libyan Parliament-appointed Government Abdul Hadi al-Huwaij called on the Egyptian leadership to organize an international conference for the reconstruction of Derna and other Libyan cities affected by the floods.
Derna will host the conference on 10 October to aid reconstruction efforts, authorities in the east of Libya said on Friday.
‘Unlimited support’
In remarks to Egypt Today, Spokesman of the Libyan Ministry of Interior Tarek Al-Kharaz paid tribute to Egypt over the unlimited support.
Kharraz hailed the role played by the Egyptian naval, air and ground forces in searching for survivors and recovering the bodies of the victims.
“Egypt always proves to us and to the world its important role in supporting the security and stability of Libya,” Kharraz added.
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