LIBYA EMERGENCY: 80% of Al-Bayyadah’s infrastructure destroyed

Storm Daniel caused extensive damage in eastern Libya. Since September 11, Première Urgence Internationale teams have been mobilized to assess needs and provide a humanitarian response to those who survived the disaster.

The staff at the Al-Bayyadah medical center have no time to breathe. After the storm, the health center was flooded to a height of two meters. Much of the equipment was damaged, and the water level is still visible on the walls. Thick mud covered the corridors, waiting rooms and operating theatres. Now it’s time to clean up and repair: the teams are trying to salvage what may still be of use, but the task is colossal.

Nursery at the Al-Bayyadah medical center, equipment seriously damaged by flooding – © Première Urgence Internationale

Assessment of humanitarian needs in Al-Bayyadah

In Al-Baddayah, 80% of the village’s infrastructure was destroyed. The only health center on which the inhabitants depended will take some time to become operational. Villagers now have to travel to the neighboring village of Qasar Libya for primary health care. The local authorities have counted 180 families who have left their homes to return to other less-affected localities; a total of 256 families have been severely affected by the disaster.

Roads, electricity and telephone networks have been destroyed, and are being restored by the authorities. Water is no longer available, which could lead to considerable health risks and the emergence of water-borne diseases.

Al-Bayyadah is one of 16 localities where Première Urgence Internationale teams have visited to assess needs.

Setting up humanitarian activities in Libya

Initial results show the need to set up a mobile clinic to relieve existing health structures, whose activity has increased tenfold due to population movements. Further movements are expected in the days and weeks ahead, and it is becoming urgent to prepare for the winter season, during which new needs will arise.

Première Urgence Internationale teams will be launching psychosocial support activities through local partners, and will be starting work on the rehabilitation of water networks and the distribution of drinking water in various localities, thanks to the emergency envelope made available by Première Urgence Internationale and the support of institutional donors, notably The Crisis and Support Centre of the French Ministry of Europe and Foreign Affairs.

Read our full emergency response in Libya in the English infographic on Reliefweb.

Première Urgence Internationale has been working in eastern Libya since 2017, currently, our NGO relies on health, WASH (water, hygiene and sanitation) and MEAL(Monitoring, Evaluation, Accountability and Learning) teams operating in Benghazi. It has the human resources and logistical capacity to mount an emergency response.