The OPEC Fund has approved a US$500,000 aid grant to provide urgent and medium-term relief to the affected population and by meeting essential needs such as food, clean water, shelter, as well as protection and prevention measures.
The OPEC Fund for International Development (the OPEC Fund) is taking action to support relief and recovery efforts in Libya in the aftermath of Storm Daniel, which struck the country last month. Record-breaking rainfall and floods inflicted severe damage and tragic loss of life with currently over 10,000 fatalities and tens of thousands more missing and forcibly displaced.
In response to the humanitarian emergency, the OPEC Fund has approved a US$500,000 aid grant to provide urgent and medium-term relief to the affected population and by meeting essential needs such as food, clean water, shelter, as well as protection and prevention measures. The grant will be channeled through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) to support the operations of the Libyan Red Crescent Society (LRCS) and deliver assistance on the ground.
OPEC Fund Director-General Abdulhamid Alkhalifa said: “Our hearts go out to the people of Libya who have endured unimaginable suffering due to this devastating storm. In close collaboration with the international community, we hope to provide essential support to those in need and to assist in the recovery from this disaster.”
The storm struck major population centers such as the cities of Benghazi, Tobruk and Derna, causing severe damage to the health system, electricity, telecommunication, infrastructure and roads, limiting access to these areas. The OPEC Fund’s grant is designed to provide immediate assistance to the most affected regions and the most vulnerable members of the population, including families, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities.
The OPEC Fund’s partnership with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) dates back to 1997, with a track record of efficient and impactful implementation in challenging settings and crises. To date, the OPEC Fund has provided around US$32 million in grants to the IFRC for nearly 90 operations.
Libya is a founding member of the OPEC Fund and as such not eligible for OPEC Fund support with the exception of emergency grants. In the aftermath of the floods, Libya emphasized the need for additional medical personnel and urgent medical assistance, and appealed to the international community and humanitarian actors for support.
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