Western Libya experienced heavy rainfall and floods in early December, causing valley streams to flow heavily, closing several major roads, and resulting in several fatalities in the city of Tarhuna, which led to the death of three people, and sweeping away the shanty dwellings of many refugees.
As the congregation of Christ the King in Tripoli were busy preparing for Christmas, tragedy struck in Tarhuna. The Libya Observer reports that the damage there was sufficient to prompt the Health authorities to provide a fully-fledged field hospital, containing intensive care and shelter. The Government has also provided for some basic needs with mattresses, blankets, cleaning materials, heaters, and supplies for children and people with disabilities.
The Rev'd Crimson Jebakumar, Chaplain in Libya, knows the area well and writes:
Tarhuna is a beautiful ancient city with the Roman marks left centuries ago. The city is around 100 kilometers from Tripoli and it is famous for its Olive plantation. There are many educational institutions there, including medical and technical colleges.
Everything was OK in the morning of the 6th of December, but by 11 it started to rain and the people were overjoyed at the rainfall because Tarhuna has experienced poor monsoons for at least four years. I had left the city much earlier in the morning but the rain became so severe and it continued for 2 consecutive days. People were so terrified. However it stopped on Friday night but the city was covered with flood waters especially those who lived in the down floors who had suffered the most because torrential rains have raised the water level raised up to 4 feet.
There are refugees as well as migrant workers from Sudan, Niger, Nigeria, Chad and Egypt who became the victims of this flood. Many of their simple and shanty houses washed away and we had to plunged into action. But we had to wait until the water receded and the shops to be opened which were also greatly affected. On Sunday afternoon I myself had a walk around the city and found these people so desolate but to wait for the shops to open till the next day provide them some foodstuffs. Therefore, on Monday, with the help of two local assistants we have provided 31 bags of food materials with bread, sugar, yogurt, oil, tuna fish, rice, and macrona for they were the most affected people who have been hungry for 3- 4 days.
The Second launch of mission will start with 40 bags of foodstuff that we have ordered . Our vision is also on providing woollen shawls / jackets due to this winter season as many of their materials washed away in the rain. Alongside the Christmas tree and preparations for Christmas in the church building, Rev'd Crimson sees this as a reminder of the mission of the Church that Christmas represents
You can support the work of the Church in North Africa here: