WHO: 101 health workers killed in Libya’s Storm Daniel

As many as 101 health workers in Libya were killed during Storm Daniel or in its immediate aftermath, the World Health Organisation (WHO) said.

“The deceased health workers are among the 4,333 people thus far confirmed dead following the storm while more than 8,500 people are still missing,” the WHO said in a statement yesterday.

Even before Storm Daniel struck, the WHO explained, Libya’s health system had been badly disrupted by more than a decade of conflict.

“Primary health care facilities throughout the country still face acute shortages of staff, medicines, equipment and medical technologies. The loss of the 101 health workers in eastern Libya is an additional heavy blow,” it added.

In the statement, WHO Representative in Libya, Dr Ahmed Zouiten, paid tribute to the health workers who were killed in the floods saying: “WHO stands with the people of Libya in mourning the loss of so many dedicated health workers.”

READ: UN Libya envoy urges unified Derna flood response

“These 101 doctors, nurses and paramedics who lost their lives are not only missed by their families and loved ones; the whole community is affected by their departure and certainly the health sector in eastern Libya and beyond will be hit hard,” he added.

In September, Storm Daniel struck many regions and cities in northern and eastern Libya, accompanied by heavy rains, destroying two dams in the northern city of Derna, resulting in floods that swept away homes and roads, and led to the death of thousands with many more still missing.