STORM DANIEL // PRESS RELEASE
Community charity organisation raises over £129,000 in aid of catastrophic flooding in eastern Libya which wiped out entire neighbourhoods, leaving a death toll of over 3,000 and 10,000 people still missing.
13 September 2023 - Libya’s eastern cities were severely hit by Storm Daniel which destroyed vital infrastructure and rendered many towns inaccessible. Derna was one of the worst affected areas after two dams near the coast had burst. The death toll is over 3000 and at least 10,000 people are still missing.
In an emergency response to the situation, UK-based charity Libya in the UK (“LYUK”) raised over £129,000 from over 3,000 donors in 24 hours to help aid the response on the ground.
The LYUK team commented that:
“The situation in Derna was unlike anything the country had witnessed before. The infrastructure and framework of the city was not built for extreme rainfall let alone the impact of Storm Daniel and the two burst Dams.”
The loss of life and displacement is truly heartbreaking. Given the lack of coverage or support for the situation in the last few days, we took the initiative to kickstart this emergency appeal.
The Libyan community in the UK has strong roots in Libya and has been outstanding in its steadfast support for those affected by the flooding in eastern Libya. Through donations, awareness on social media and volunteering, the community has generated significant international momentum and support.”
In collaboration with the Libyan Red Crescent and the Libyan Scouts (Benghazi), the money raised by LYUK will be used to distribute resources, food and non-food items and emergency shelter to those most in need.
The LYUK team added:
“We are a small charity and to raise over £129,000 in such a short amount of time is incredible. It is a testament to the strength and generosity of the Libyan community for which we are deeply grateful. We sincerely thank all our volunteers and everyone who donated, shared and supported through social media.”
For any more information on Libya in the UK and if you would still like to donate to support people in the affected areas in Libya please visit our website: https://www.libyaintheuk.org/emergency-appeal
For any media or press inquiries please contact: info@libyaintheuk.org
Libya in the UK (LYUK) is an independent non-governmental organisation led by Libyan youth living in the diaspora. We seek to be a hub for Libyans in the UK to foster a shared sense of community. We provide a platform for networking and knowledge sharing for all Libyans and implement initiatives to advance Libyan art, culture, young talent and entrepreneurship. Ultimately, LYUK aims to build a vibrant and diverse Libyan community in the UK.
