In September 2023, eastern Libya was struck by devastating floods.  

Hospitals and morgues struggled to cope with what the United Nations called a “calamity of epic proportions”. It left the nation with over 5,200 deaths and 10,000 people reported missing.  

Libya’s worst disaster in modern history significantly altered its landscape. 30,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed, along with roads and bridges. Communities were cut off and more than 40,000 individuals were internally displaced.   

Waterborne diseases became a serious concern in the aftermath, with infrastructure severely contaminated.  

Working with local partners to deliver aid in Libya

Although Islamic Relief does not have a permanent presence in the country, we were determined to help survivors. To do so, we teamed up with local partners in Libya.

Working with non-governmental organisations (NGOs), Islamic Relief provided blankets, mattresses, medical aid, food kits and baby items to families affected by the floods.   

The road ahead after the disaster

Islamic Relief is supporting Libya’s flood-affected population on the path to sustainable recovery through several ongoing projects.   

This includes working with international non-governmental organisations in Libya to provide shelter to displaced families; restore vital public infrastructure and services; and help affected children come to terms with what they have experienced through counselling and recreational activities. Through this collaboration, we also aim to strengthen the public health system by delivering emergency primary healthcare services.  

Disaster capacity-building is another key element on the road to recovery. Local organisations are often among the first to respond when disasters strike. Hence, strengthening and supporting them is an important part of our work in Libya.

Working with WHAF (World Humanitarian Action Forum), we have been training 100 local civil society organisations on disaster and crisis management. We are empowering them to prepare for and handle future disasters more effectively.  

Islamic Relief has supported almost 10,000 people in Libya to date, yet everyday life remains challenging for thousands of affected people.