On September 11, 2023, residents of the coastal city Derna in Libya awoke to the explosive sounds of two dams breaking, releasing a wall of water that quickly destroyed sections of the city and killed thousands. The dams, built from earthen materials, already weak from previous damage, were meant to protect nearly 90,000 people, collectively holding back up to 24 million cubic meters of water. According to APNews, the U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs currently estimates 4,000 people killed and 9,000 people missing.
The Anglican church (Province of Alexandria) is present there, currently working to connect relief aid to local volunteers and NGO partners to help provide aid for survivors. ARDF is thankful for our sister National Organization, ARDF-Egypt. We are able to partner with them to bring relief aid to where it is needed most.
