Humanitarian Aid and Rescue Mission: Jordan’s Response to Libyan Flood Crisis

Humanitarian Aid and Rescue Mission: Jordan’s Response to Libyan Flood Crisis

Jordan Dispatches Aid and Rescue Team to Libya

In response to the devastating floods that have hit Libya, Jordan has sent a second aircraft loaded with humanitarian aid and a rescue team. The decision to dispatch assistance was made by King Abdullah II and coordinated through various Jordanian entities including the armed forces, the Public Security Directorate, and the government-run Jordan Hashemite Charity Organisation (JHCO).

The rescue team is made up of 88 members, including five doctors, all of whom have previously been involved in various international rescue missions. The aircraft carries essential logistics and medical supplies, as well as the Jordan International Search and Rescue Team, whose main objective is to locate and rescue individuals trapped or stranded due to the floods.

(Read Also: Second Saudi Aid Plane Lands in Libya with Flood Relief)

Previous Aid Efforts and Current Situation in Libya

This recent response follows Jordan’s initial aid effort, which involved sending a plane loaded with humanitarian items such as blankets, mattresses, and food to eastern Libya. This assistance was necessary due to the catastrophic impact of the floods in Libya, which have resulted in significant loss of life and displacement.

The death toll from the floods has risen to 5,500, with an additional 7,000 people injured. Furthermore, approximately 10,000 individuals are reported missing, and 30,000 have been displaced. These figures were confirmed by Libya’s emergency services based in Tripoli.

The floods in Libya were caused by hurricane-strength Storm Daniel, compounded by poor infrastructure in a country that has descended into years of turmoil following a NATO-backed uprising in 2011. Access to Derna in the east remains severely hampered as roads and bridges have been destroyed and power and phone lines cut to wide areas where at least 30,000 people are now homeless.

(Read Also: Libya’s Tragedy: An Unprecedented Flood and a Nation’s Unpreparedness)

International Cooperation and Humanitarian Assistance

Jordan’s efforts underscore its commitment to providing crucial support to Libya during a time of severe crisis. This is an example of international cooperation and humanitarian assistance, with several other Middle Eastern and North African nations, as well as the United States and European Union, pledging to send rescue teams and aid, including food, water tanks, emergency shelters, and medical supplies.

Climate experts have linked Libya’s disaster to the impacts of a heating planet combined with the country’s decaying infrastructure. This crisis serves as a reminder of the importance of international cooperation in the face of human tragedy. The response from Jordan and other nations demonstrates the potential for unity and action in times of crisis, regardless of political affiliations.

(Read Also: Rescinding the Numbers: UN Retracts Death Toll for Catastrophic Flooding in Libya’s Derna)