Libya Floods Emergency response

Following the devastating floods on Sunday in the city of Derna, Libya, prompted by the collapse of two dams in a powerful storm, more than 5300 people are known to have died. At least 10,000 people are reported missing, while 30,000 people are estimated to have lost their homes.

To respond in Libya, we'll be drawing on our experience in the region, contextual insights, and recent work on the 2022 floods in Pakistan to provide capacity development and support to local responders. This emergency response will provide technical expertise to local partners, enabling them to respond effectively, inclusively, and sustainably to this devastating flood.

Our rapid needs assessment among local engineers and humanitarian responders on the ground will assess where capacity gaps might exist and seek addressing those training needs. We will act on the results of this research and adapting to the needs arising, curating a contextualised response accordingly.

Drawing on our existing training material relating to blast-induced damage assessments in Ukraine, Iraq, and Syria, and seismic damage assessments in Türkiye and Syria, we are working with our partners and expert Associate Trainers to develop highly contextualised training material from our exiting Arabic-language material on damage assessments and related topics, as well as other training on related topics.

Open Modules

Modules are free to attend, and offered on a first-come-first-serve basis. Click on the individual links on each date to register for the module you’d like to attend. They are all facilitated online on Zoom, and delivered in the Arabic language.

You can also download our module guide here

Staying Effective (safety, security and wellbeing) (2.5 hours)

This module examines some basic components to staying effective when working in response to the Libya floods humanitarian crisis. It provides a foundation for understanding basic personal security, including assessing your own behaviour and risk profile, developing situational awareness, and conducting rapid, dynamic risk assessments. It also examines basic techniques to remain effective, including techniques to manage stress and remain effective during the crisis.

Thursday 14th December 2023, 11:00 Libya time (UTC+2)

Tuesday 19th December 2023, 11:00 Libya time (UTC+2)

Have your say: Rapid Learning Needs Assessment is Live

Your insights and feedback are invaluable in understanding the specific learning needs of those involved in flood response in Libya.

Help us develop tailored training and capacity-building programs to make a significant difference. All responses are confidential. Your thoughtful input will shape future initiatives.

Take 15 minutes for the survey here.

Give now

Give now to our emergency appeal here.

Thank you for your generous support. Your gift will ensure that vital expertise in technical and humanitarian action can help to alleviate suffering and help rebuild in Libya.

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Supporting the flood response in Derna

How we're responding in Libya

Empowering engineers and other responders to provide safe, effective, needs-based humaniatarian response in Libya:

Conducting and publishing a rapid learning needs assessment (RLNA) on capacity gaps in the flood response, with a focus on engineering learning needs. The RLNA will help us achieve localisation and contextualisation for the trainings.
Developing and delivering online modules in Arabic and English on topics prioritised in the RLNA, such as flooding damage assessments, or cross-cutting topics such as protection and community engagement.
Deliverying an additional Training of Trainers to on-ground engineers (online), increasing training and dissemination capacity amongst specialists.

The multiplier effect of this intervention means that the humnaitarian assistance to a very large number of affected people will be improved on modest investment into capacity development of local actors.

Supporting local technical and non-technical responders to assess damage to building and determine safe entry:

Delivering online faciliated Rapid Damage Assessments training in Arabic and English to engineers.
Supporting the development and dissemination of tools and guidance on structural damage assessments.
Adapting Rapid Damage Assessments training for face-to-face delivery, delivering it in Libya facilitated by engineers we have previously trained in other contexts.