Over the RubbleHe sat on the crumpled remains of a car, twisted and bent by the merciless floodwaters that had ravaged his village. The metal beneath him groaned under the weight of his grief, as if it, too, mourned the lives lost.He pointed to the ruin opposite him. “This entire family is gone,” he said, his voice heavy with the weight of unspeakable loss.“Have you lost anyone?” we asked.His eyes filled with tears, and he nodded, his hand trembling as he pointed to one side of the ruin. “I lost six family members here.” His voice broke, and he gestured in another direction, “Five more over there,” he paused, his breath catching in his throat before he finally added, his voice barely a whisper, “and my mother.”He clenched his fists, struggling to maintain his composure, the pain of his loss evident in every line of his face. He paused to hold back the sobs.Finally, he spoke again, his voice filled with quiet resolve, “Everything can be replaced but my mother.”As we witness the aftermath of Storm-Daniel, not only homes and buildings has been destroyed but lives, and entire families have been swept away  Healing Together"It was an extremely difficult night, and the rain was heavy. The rain didn’t stop that night, and we had never seen such rain in Derna before. We lost contact with my father, and then the news started coming to us one by one. that those who didn’t leave the area where our house was located are missing, and bodies are everywhere." Nouria painfully recallsNouria and her best friend Basent, both 10 years old, stand side by side in the streets of Derna, Libya, where their lives were forever changed by the devastating floods caused by Storm Daniel on September 10, 2023. Nouria lost her father that night, a tragedy that has left a deep scar on her young heart. Basent, though not directly impacted by the loss of a family member, grieves alongside her friend, reflecting on the man who always greeted them with a smile and encouraged their studies.Crises and natural disasters are among the most important factors that play a pivotal role in a child's mental health. A child's feelings of fear and anxiety can lead to psychological trauma if not addressed in a scientific and educational manner.This photo captures the children resilience and the deep friendship that helps them navigate the aftermath of the disaster. With the support of a UNICEF-led psychological support team, children like Nouria and Basent are slowly finding ways to heal, learning to adapt to the changes in their lives, and even setting new goals for the future. The importance of such support cannot be overstated, as it provides them with the tools they need to cope with trauma and begin rebuilding their lives.  Journey of Loss, Hope, and Rebuilding“Every day we wake up to the trauma of what happened, as if it's on replay. We remember the old Derna. We want to coexist with the pain and memories of those we lost while rebuilding our city,” says Yasmin, a young entrepreneur and civil society activist from Derna. Although she survived the tragic floods with her immediate family, thanks to their home being on higher ground, she lost over 30 members of her extended family.Yasmin vividly recalls the events of that tragic day. “At dawn, I asked my father if I could go with him to see the effects of the floods in the city with my own eyes. I saw people near the port, frantically lifting rubble and, at first, not realizing that they were searching for their loved ones.”Despite the immense trauma, Yasmin has remained resilient. As a Scouts leader, she naturally took to using her online platforms to amplify SOS calls and network for aid. Her leadership and determination shone through, even during such dark times. Just 40 days after the tragedy, Yasmin made the bold decision to reopen ‘Flamingo,’ the photography studio she co-manages with her sister. Typically, a place to capture joyous moments—weddings and graduations—the studio now serves a dual purpose: supporting local business owners by promoting their ventures and helping those who lost official documents.Today, Yasmin continues to operate the studio, driven by her commitment to giving people hope after the devastation. "This is not the first time Derna has faced adversity. We’ve seen it rise from the ashes before, overcoming numerous challenges. It will take concentrated efforts to restore Derna to what it once was, but I believe it can—and will," she concludes.  Rising from the Flood“The tragedy struck us at 3 a.m. The amount of water was terrible, leading to the complete destruction of the bakery “ Mustafa Al-Jibani, owner of Al-Jibani bakery.The floods did not only destroyed homes and essential services. The aftermath was grim: mud-covered ovens and damaged homes left communities struggling to recover. Among the hardest-hit were local bakeries, a crucial source of sustenance for many families. In response, the UN through WFP mobilized to help rebuild these bakeries, providing equipment such as ovens, mixers, and generators.Thanks to the intervention, 32 bakeries in Derna received modern equipment, allowing them to reopen and improve their production capacity. Ahmed Al-Misrati, owner of Al-Aneeq bakery, expressed his relief: “We were informed that a full bakery would be provided. They fulfilled their promise and asked us to complete the procedures. We even called back the workers who survived the flood to return to work.”The impact extended beyond just reopening businesses. Bait Al-Jouda bakery, one of the few in its neighborhood, also received critical support. “After the flood, we were severely impacted; my mother and father passed away, which really affected us. I wanted to open the bakery again, but I couldn’t due to the damages. There were no neighbors around, no electricity, and no water. When we heard about this rehabilitation project, we applied, and thank God we were chosen,” said the owner. “We received modern equipment such as rack ovens, mixers, and generators. Now, we are producing different types of bread and pastries and moving forward every day.”Through this initiative, the UN’s efforts have enabled bakeries like these to not only recover but also thrive, ensuring the continuity of vital food services and rebuilding livelihoods in the aftermath of disaster.  Starting over for the Second TimeThey had fled a war, only to be caught in a deadly storm.Standing on a patch of dry ground in front of their new home, Asma and Abdelraham clutched their two young boys in their arms—one barely walking. Abdelraham’s voice trembled as he spoke about the day the floods came.“We had just begun to feel safe,” he said, his words heavy with the weight of their losses. "In Sudan, we lived stable lives until the war came. We had no choice but to flee." His voice faltered as he described their escape to Derna. A peaceful city by the sea, it had offered them the promise of safety. "It was beautiful here," he continued. "We had started to build a life."Then came the night of the storm.Heavy rains battered their home near the shoreline, relentless and unforgiving. "The water started rising," Abdelraham recalled, his eyes clouding with the memory. "We didn't understand how bad it would get."Asma’s voice broke as she remembered that terrifying night. "The Red Crescent came in the middle of the night, yelling for us to leave. We were fortunate that we escaped. So many others... they didn’t." She paused, her hands shaking as she recounted the bodies in the streets and buildings collapsing like cards. "I keep thinking about when I was in the middle of it all and how I managed to get out.""The people of Libya stood with us," Abdelrahman continued. "We received temporary shelter and aid, but the pain of what we saw—that remains."The storm had swept away their home, their belongings, and their sense of security. But as the days passed, they held onto each other, determined to rebuild yet again. One year after the devastating Storm Daniel disaster, the remarkable resilience of the affected communities shines through, as significant progress has been made in recovery efforts. However, much remains to be done, and continued support is essential to fully rebuild lives and livelihoods. The UN in Libya remains committed to standing by these communities, just as it has since day one, helping them navigate their journey of mourning, healing, and rebuilding their lives and neighborhoods.  

 Libya is one of many countries threatened by desertification. The country's limited water resources and over-extraction of groundwater for agricultural and other uses exacerbate this issue. In the far southeastern region of Libya, the second largest oasis in Africa, lies Kufra, known for its unique climate, a blend of tropical and Mediterranean influences, and its rich mango production.Mango produced in Kufra   (Abdeladeem Ajaj / UNDP Libya)Farmers in Kufra, like Ahmed Alamin, struggle to maintain their produce with the limited water resources available. "Without water, there would be no produce, no vegetables, no fruits," he says. "Both tropical and Mediterranean plants thrive here but require proper care. The absence of water would mean the loss  of these plants and vegetables from Libya in general, and Kufra in particular."The water supply system in Kufra relies on pumping water from wells to various water networks. However, the limited number of wells has led to water shortages, especially during the scorching summer months. In response, the United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) Recovery, Stability, and Socio-economic Development project, in collaboration with the Ministry of Local Government and with generous funding from the EU Emergency Trust Fund for Africa, has supported the Municipality of Kufra in improving its water supply system. This initiative included the addition of two water boreholes, enhancing the water supply for 6,600 residents.Mr. Yousef Al-Mari, a representative of the Local Council in Kufra, shares: "The residents of the Shura neighbourhood faced a daily struggle to secure drinking water, often having to journey to nearby areas like Suwaydiya. This hardship has been alleviated thanks to the new borehole constructed by UNDP, which provides much-needed relief to the communities in Shura and similarly in the Al-Mukhtar neighbourhood," he says.Libya is grappling with a severe water crisis, ranking among the world's most water-stressed nations. The country's overreliance on groundwater for nearly 97% of its water supply intensifies this problem. This acute water scarcity casts a long shadow over agriculture, food security, and the overall well-being of its population.Water is the lifeblood of any society, and its scarcity in Libya poses a formidable threat to livelihoods, economic growth, and environmental sustainability.“If water becomes scarce, people, including myself, will be forced to migrate to coastal and rainy areas. Water is the lifeblood of this region, especially for Kufra."Ahmed Alamin concludes. 

TRIPOLI – 13 August – Over 20 Libyan young men and women gathered in the UN compound in Tripoli to share their ideas in a workshop on fostering civic space to mark International Youth Day. The workshop, held yesterday, focused on the identifying the most effective ways youth could use civic space to influence policy changes, leverage mechanisms to ensure fair and transparent electoral processes and how youth-led initiatives to promote civic space could be better supported. “A vibrant civic space is essential for a healthy democracy,” said Suki Nagra, Director of Human Rights, Rule of Law and Transitional Justice in UNSMIL who joined the workshop. “It allows citizens, civil society organisations and other groups to freely express themselves, participate in decision-making processes, and hold their governments to account.” Through discussions in breakout groups, the young men and women in the workshop made the following recommendations: Civic space needs to be expanded and protected: restrictions on civic space need to be reduced; creating a secure environment for civil society to engage with communities should be seen as working alongside the state, not detracting from it.  More needs to be done to raise awareness of what civil society is, so that misconceptions and misinformation do not take root in wider communities. Social media represents an opportunity for civil society to influence decision-makers and to rebut misinformation. Civic space must include all segments of society including women, cultural components, community leaders and those with disabilities, and they should be reached through targeted campaigns on social media, and appropriate communication channels .  Youth resilience needs to be built to ensure they can engage consistently in the discussion and continue to advocate throughout the lobbying process. More needs to be done to bring civil society together to collaborate and work on shared goals and commitments and encourage members of the public to join them; civil society organisations should be encouraged to with partner national and international organisations to share experiences and knowledge. More needs to be done to educate communities on peaceful dialogue and how to engage in healthy debates, as well as how to fact check information. Language used needs to be carefully considered. Youth need to be educated more about their rights and how they can engage in the electoral process as candidates and voters and in their role in promoting voter participation at the municipal level. Establish focal points across Libya to build a network of youth and civil society organisations who work with local communities to provide workshops and skills training on key topics. “Civil society is the engine behind any political process and youth can be the catalyst for change,” said one workshop participant. “Civil society groups should work together more and collaborate on the issues where they complement each other so that they have more influence,” said another. The workshop was part of UNSMIL’s new youth strategy – YouEngage, which aims to engage with 1,000 young men and women by May 2025 through workshops, trainings and advocacy sessions. Many more sessions are organized and are communicated using UNSMIL’s youth groups on Facebook and LinkedIn.

TRIPOLI – 6 August – Youth activists from across Libya joined Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary General and Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Georgette Gagnon yesterday in a workshop to develop recommendations aimed at addressing the impacts of climate change in Libya and encourage youth participation on climate action.The three-hour workshop co-led by UNSMIL and UNDP, facilitated a discussion among young men and women to identify concrete ways youth could further engage on protecting the environment and reducing the impact of climate change in Libya, particularly as the country approaches the one-year anniversary of the disaster in Derna and affected areas.“What happened in Derna was a shock, but since then communities have begun to follow climate change issues and understand more what can be, and needs to be done,” said a participant adding that significant issues include instability in the country and limited knowledge among Libyan communities on climate change. Participants stressed that more needed to be done to raise awareness about the importance of climate change and how they can make changes to improve the environment in Libya.Young men and women who participated in the workshop made the following recommendations: Raise awareness among Libyan communities about actions they can take to mitigate the harmful impacts of climate change in Libya.Develop social media campaigns to enhance environmental awareness and build the knowledge of youth across Libya.Work with communities to develop impactful environmental plans, focusing on initiatives such as improving water and air quality and reducing pollution levels among other actions.Establish a large greening initiative to plant trees, build parks and protect green spaces, reducing construction in these areas.Libyan government should work with youth and civil society to develop a climate change strategy and adopt relevant global policies.As part of access to oil fields in Libya, foreign companies working in Libya should include tree-planting and greening initiatives in their contracts.Better use of technology to improve early warning systems to reduce the impact of disasters like floods and improve transparent data collection to monitor air and water quality.Establish desalination initiatives to reduce water scarcity across the country.Train a cadre of urban planners for Libyan towns and cities to ensure that construction is done in ways that protect the environment.Build a network of young people working on environmental issues, as well as dedicated platforms, to foster collaboration, maximize impact and help connect youth to global movements.“Most young people are not connected to each other, so building a network of environmental activists to advocate on climate change   would help diversify the voices involved and build the capability of a wider group of youth,” said another participant.The workshop was the second in a series of online and in-person engagements convened by UNSMIL under its new YouEngage youth strategy which aims to hear from 1,000 young Libyans over the next year on critical issues.