Storm Daniel made landfall over Libya, generating heavy rain and flooding across Benghazi, Butnan, Derna, Jabal al Akhdar, Marj, Misrata, Sirte, Tripoli, and Al Wahat districts on September 10 and 11, 2023. The storm also prompted the collapse of two dams near Derna city, which released nearly 8 billion gallons of water on September 10. The flooding from the storm and dam breaks has resulted in more than 5,000 deaths and displaced at least 34,000 people as of September 13.
U.S. Chargé d'Affaires, a.i., Richard B. Norland issued a declaration of humanitarian need on September 11 due to the effects of the floods in Libya. In response, USAID provided an initial $1 million in disaster assistance funds and activated a Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) based in Tunis, Tunisia, and a Response Management Team in Washington, D.C., on September 13.
In addition to the needs generated by the September 2023 floods, Libya has experienced widespread armed conflict, civil unrest, and political instability since 2011. Despite improved humanitarian conditions since the October 2020 ceasefire agreement, local, migrant, and refugee populations residing in Libya continue to face the adverse effects of political and economic instability and insecurity.
USAID continues to address the urgent needs of the country’s most vulnerable populations by supporting aid actors in Libya to provide health services, as well as protection and psychosocial support. In addition, USAID provides early recovery, risk reduction, and resilience (ER4) support to address humanitarian needs, minimize chronic vulnerabilities, and strengthen community resilience to natural disasters in Libya.
