Water-borne diseases: UNICEF strengthens Libya’s water treatment system
Since the most recent floods in September 2023 in eastern Libya, there has been an increase in the number of cases of illnesses linked to drinking unsafe water. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) has just equipped several municipalities in the North African country with 20 water disinfection systems, as well as two treatment units to reduce health risks.
Reconstruction is continuing in eastern Libya, where storm Daniel caused deadly flooding in September 2023. Following the recommissioning of the Derna seawater desalination plant (40,000 m3) in October 2023, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) is installing 20 water disinfection systems and two water treatment units to provide services to communities affected by the natural disaster, which killed 11,300 people, displaced almost 44,800 and damaged more than 18,500 homes in 20 Libyan municipalities, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).
“The floods in the east of the country have considerably exacerbated the problems of water contamination due to leaks or damage to the sewage system, which has led to a surge in cases of diarrhoea in the areas affected by the floods and poses serious health risks for the local population,” explains UNICEF, which has worked with the General Company for Water and Wastewater (GCWW) to implement the water project.
Supplying drinking water to around 100,000 people
In detail, the 20 water disinfection systems will be installed on municipal boreholes, particularly in the towns of Derna, Bayda, Sousse, Derna and Quba. These systems are designed to purify the water by eliminating pathogens and harmful biological contaminants. This should enable around 65,000 people, including more than 19,000 children, to have access to safe drinking water, considerably reducing the risk of water-borne diseases. In addition to diarrhoea, these include cholera, dysentery, typhoid fever and poliomyelitis.
As for the two drinking water plants, they have been installed in the municipalities of Al Mkhili and El Ezzeiat, south of the city of Derna. Each unit has the capacity to produce 30 m3 of drinking water per hour, ensuring a continuous supply of safe water for residents and for water trucking operations in the surrounding areas, guaranteeing 30,000 people reliable access to drinking water.
