Guterres conveys his solidarity to the Libyan people after the 'Daniel' storm that has left more than 5,200 dead

Biden announces sending emergency funds to aid organizations in Libya

MADRID, 13 Sep. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Secretary General of the United Nations, António Guterres, has expressed his solidarity with the people and authorities of Libya, after the passage of storm 'Daniel', which has left more than 5,200 dead and 10,000 missing.

"(Guterres) is deeply saddened by the serious effects of storm 'Daniel' and the subsequent floods that have hit the eastern part of Libya," reads a statement from the secretary general's spokesman, Stéphane Dujarric, in which he regretted that the storm has claimed the lives of thousands of people, thousands more missing and the destruction of homes and civil infrastructure.

Dujárric, who has conveyed his condolences to the loved ones of the deceased, has indicated that the UN is working with local, national and international partners "to bring urgently needed humanitarian aid to those in the affected areas." .

The special representative of the UN Secretary General in Libya, Abdoulaye Bathily, has praised the solidarity of local institutions from all regions to help face the effects of the storm, maintaining that it is a "moment in which we all come together" .

Bathily praised "the heroic efforts that the rescue teams have made and are making" and assured that she was "not at all surprised to see how Libyan local and national institutions, local communities and people from all over the country have come forward to help." help their brothers in the most affected areas.

For his part, US President Joe Biden has announced that "in this complicated situation, the United States is sending emergency funds to aid organizations and coordinating with the Libyan authorities and the UN to provide additional support."

"We join the Libyan people in mourning the loss of too many lives and send our hope to all those missing loved ones," reads a statement from the White House also signed by the first lady, Jill Biden.

The British Foreign Minister, James Cleverly, has joined the messages of condolences to the Libyan people in a brief statement in which he has shown the United Kingdom's willingness to provide aid to the country.

Other leaders, such as Russian President Vladimir Putin, have indicated to the president of the Libyan Presidential Council, Mohamed Menfi, that they are prepared to provide "the necessary help" to "cope with the effects of the devastating floods."

The Turkish president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who already announced the day before the sending of humanitarian aid planes, has assured Menfi that his country "will spare no effort to provide all types of support" after the storm. For his part, Menfi has expressed his gratitude for Turkey's support, praising "the tireless efforts to help Libya."

In addition, Menfi has asked to overcome differences and everyone's solidarity to face the disaster, pointing out that it has coordinated with countries and international organizations and taking "several measures", including an agreement with the prime minister of unity, Abdul Hamid Dbeibé. , to allocate emergency funds to support rescue and reconstruction efforts.

Storm 'Daniel' has hit the east of the country - divided into two parallel governments since the beginning of 2022 due to a serious political crisis - after causing havoc last week in Greece, Bulgaria and Turkey, where close to about thirty deaths.