We have new breaking updates from Libya that we wanted you to see:
- 880,000 people have been affected by deadly flooding in Libya
- 230,000 women of reproductive age are in need of humanitarian assistance
- 40,000 people have been displaced
- 24,000 pregnant women need essential sexual and reproductive health services
- 2,625 women are expected to give birth in the next month
Derna is the most affected area. The heavy rainfall combined with the breach of two dams destroyed vital infrastructure and countless homes. Initially, half of the population in Derna was assessed to be in dire need of humanitarian assistance.
In Derna, the only remaining structurally intact health facility lacks medical doctors, medicines, and fuel for generators. There is no functional maternity facility in the city. The city is connected to Benghazi through only one road, and it takes up to 8 hours for a pregnant woman to reach the Benghazi Medical Center.
Access to violence prevention and response services across Libya’s Eastern region is severely curtailed by the road blockages and the destruction of hospitals. And displaced women are in dire need for emergency reproductive health and mental health services.
But amidst disaster and chaos, your support is making a difference. Thanks to your generous gifts, UNFPA has already distributed 1,000 dignity kits to women and girls and has procured an additional 4,000. UNFPA has deployed 3 medical teams across 5 health facilities in the hardest-hit regions.
But despite this accelerating progress, our Libya Flash Appeal is only 9% funded so far. Will you make an emergency gift to deliver lifesaving care to the survivors of Libya’s deadly flooding? Women and girls are counting on your support today.
Thank you for being there during moments of crisis. We will continue to update you as we learn more about the developing response in Libya.
— USA for UNFPA