Libya’s September flood requires $1.8 billion in recovery funds, report says
The reconstruction and recovery needs following the devastating flooding in eastern Libya last September amount to 1.8 billion U.S. dollars, according to a new joint report from the World Bank, United Nations, and the European Union.
The Libya Rapid Damage and Needs Assessment (RDNA) employed a globally recognized methodology covering various sectors of the Libyan economy. The joint report highlights the far-reaching impact of Storm Daniel.
Heavy rainfall and floodwaters from the storm breached two aging dams, destroying vast areas in the city of Derna, and sweeping entire districts of the city into the Mediterranean.
The disaster affected approximately 1.5 million people, constituting 22 percent of Libya’s population. Access to healthcare and education deteriorated and food insecurity increased in the affected areas, disproportionately affecting vulnerable groups.
The report said poor design, outdated hydrological information, and poor maintenance and governance all contributed to the dams’ collapse.
It is estimated that physical damage and losses from the flooding in Derna and other areas totals 1.65 billion U.S. dollars.
