Libya Emergency Appeal — Storm Daniel: thank you and update from Libya in the UK

Thank you. Libya in the UK is deeply grateful for your generous donations to the Libya Emergency Appeal — Storm Daniel and for the volunteers who helped send aid packages to Derna. Your support — financial and practical — has made a real difference. Below is a clear update on what we’ve done, what we’ve learned, and how your donations are being used.

What happened in Derna
On 10 September 2023, Storm Daniel struck northeastern Libya. The storm caused two dams to burst in Derna, sweeping away neighbourhoods, destroying more than a quarter of the city, and creating catastrophic damage. The human toll was enormous: some 11,300 casualties and around 40,000 people forced from their homes. The scale and speed of the disaster triggered urgent national and international relief efforts.

How Libya in the UK responded
On 11 September 2023 Libya in the UK launched a GoFundMe to support emergency relief in eastern Libya. By 13 September we had raised over £130,000. Since then our team has continued working to make sure donations are delivered where they are most needed, even as the situation and capacity on the ground have evolved.

Challenges we faced
After the initial global outpouring of support, public attention moved on and some promised help did not materialise. That forced us to adapt: rather than rely on large, uncertain pledges we focused on direct, accountable partnerships with local groups so funds and aid could reach households quickly and transparently.

On-the-ground work and partnerships
Earlier this year our team visited Derna to meet local organisations, inspect the situation first-hand, and accelerate delivery with trusted partners. One important partner is the grassroots group Mubader. Together we have supported a campaign that has repaired around 144 residential buildings — restoring 158 homes for more than 300 families — and rehabilitated community spaces such as graveyards and mosques. Mubader’s campaign focuses on low-income households displaced by the floods, providing cleaning, painting and basic necessities to make houses livable again. Our team has joined multiple field visits to assess damage, prioritise repairs and verify work before houses are handed back to families.

How your donations are being used
– Emergency relief and medical care
– Repairs and rehousing for displaced families
– Community rebuilding projects (mosques, graveyards, public spaces)
– We are working with legal and philanthropic partners, including Bates Wells and the GlobalGiving Foundation, to ensure rigorous financial controls and transparent reporting.

What’s next
Libya in the UK will continue to support reconstruction, re-housing and medical needs in Derna. We will keep strengthening local partnerships and publishing updates on progress and expenditure so donors can see the impact of their generosity.

How you can help right now
If you haven’t yet donated and would like to help, please visit our fundraiser (link to GoFundMe) or contribute via our partners (link to GlobalGiving). If you’ve already supported us, please consider sharing the campaign with friends and community groups — awareness matters.