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As the crisis in Libya deepens, there are fears surrounding the thousands of people left homeless by the floods.

There is an urgent need for shelter and greater supplies of food, water and medicines to the worst affected areas.

Dr Rick Brennan is the regional emergency director for the World Health Organization covering the Eastern Mediterranean region which oversees Libya.

He told Newsday: ''The UN estimates around 880,000 people probably are in need of some of assistance, and the WHO can assist close to around half a million with the biggest needs in the city of Derna."

Prior to this crisis he says: ''The health system was not functioning particularly well there''. There is some medical aid "the WHO contingency stocks prepositioned there are flowing from the east and west of Libya and a plane load of supplies should be arriving tomorrow''.

He added: ''Other partners on the ground such as UNICEF and the International Rescue Committee are scaling up activities.''

In the short term the big needs are, ''trauma care and ensuring access to essential health services just getting some clinics up and running.''

He said '''outbreaks of infectious diseases are a concern'' including diarroheal diseases so people need clean water and there is the risk of respiratory and skin infections. He also said, ''the large scale of death is clearly very distressing for survivors so mental health is also key.''

(Photo shows a view of buildings damaged in the flood due to Storm Daniel in Derna, Libya on September 14, 2023. Credit: Hamza Al Ahmar/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

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