The Party of European Socialists (PES) is deeply saddened by the devastating floods in Libya earlier this week, which took more than 5,000 people’s lives, with almost 20,000 people reported missing. The PES sends its condolences to all the victims of this disaster.
PES Executive Secretary General Giacomo Filibeck said:
“We stand in solidarity with the Libyan people in this time of need, especially with the people of Derna, the worst affected city, where a quarter of its population is reported missing. We send our deepest condolences to the families of the victims and to everyone affected by the floods. Saving lives must be the immediate priority.
“We welcome the swift activation of the European Union’s Civil Protection Mechanism in support of Libya and the release of an initial €500,000 in humanitarian funding for the country. We call for further action and coordination.”
The flash floods caused by storm Daniel caught many by surprise, after a torrential downpour equivalent to the yearly rainfall in the region. In Derna, a dam collapsed, destroying buildings, and devastating entire neighbourhoods. According to Abdulmenam al Gaizi, mayor of Derna, the death toll could reach 20,000. As the PES stated in its latest presidency declaration on climate and biodiversity, extreme climate events are more and more frequent, which highlights the urgent need to protect nature and speed up our transition to carbon neutrality, helping those most affected to adapt to the new, more extreme weather conditions.
