CharityWatch announces a list of legitimate,
efficient, and accountable charities involved in efforts to provide emergency
assistance and aid for the victims of the recent unprecedented flooding that
hit the country of Libya.
Thousands are feared dead after Storm Daniel brought
severe rain to northeastern Libya over the past weekend. Libya received more
than 16 inches of rain in a 24-hour period. It is estimated that 11,300 people
have died, 10,000 are believed missing, and at least 40,000 are displaced because
of the flooding as of September 15, 2023.
The city of Derna saw the worst of the storm’s
catastrophic damage. Two dams collapsed under the massive pressure of flood
water, several bridges were destroyed, and whole neighborhoods were washed
away.
Infrastructure in Libya has suffered repeated issues
during the civil war that broke out after the 2011 fall of Moammar Gaddafi. The
country remains divided between opposing governments in the east and the west.
There are significant worries that aid may be impeded by the political
fractures in Libya. The full extent of the devastation will not be known for
weeks or months. The people of Libya need immediate aid and relief.
Unscrupulous charities will sometimes use disasters as a
money grab to raise funds for unrelated causes. CharityWatch does not add just
any charity to our disaster alerts. We sort through the marketing fluff of
charities to find out what specific aid is being provided to victims before
adding an organization to our list. This list will be updated as new
information becomes available.
The charities listed below are Top-Rated by CharityWatch
for spending at least 75% of their cash budgets on programs; for maintaining
fundraising efficiency of $25 or less to raise each $100 in cash donations; and
for meeting CharityWatch’s governance & transparency benchmarks.
ATTENTION: The
charities listed in this alert were Top-Rated by CharityWatch at the time of
its publication. CharityWatch updates our ratings throughout the year. To see
if a particular charity is currently Top-Rated, please click on its name,
below.
Doctors Without Borders USA (Medecins Sans Frontieres), which runs medical programs in the west of the country, dispatched an emergency team from Misrata on September 13. The emergency team is traveling with supplies to donate on arrival in Derna, including 400 body bags; 200 medical kits of disinfectants, compresses, sutures, and bandages to treat the wounded; and casualty care kits for 250 patients containing gloves, antibiotics, dressings, and surgical masks.
International Medical Corps sent a response team to the region to conduct assessments and provide humanitarian aid. They are working with the government and local health facilities to coordinate efforts and are rushing medical supplies and equipment to help families affected by the floods.
International Rescue Committee is committed to working with local partners and the Libyan authorities to provide immediate assistance to those affected by the disaster. They are conducting a joint needs assessment and will scale up services to support flood-affected communities. 
Muslim Aid USA is on the ground working with local partners to deliver medical equipment, emergency medical aid, emergency food packages, blankets, clothing, shelter and other necessities.
United States Fund for UNICEF is rushing more emergency supplies to aid children and families struggling to survive in northeastern Libya. UNICEF is shipping 27 tons of medicines and medical equipment, high performance tents and water purification tablets to help children and families in Libya, including 71 medical kits, 20 acute watery diarrhea (AWD) kits, 25 high-performance tents, 250 tarpaulins, 100,000 water purification tablets, and 400 personal protective equipment (PPE) items. In the days and weeks to come, UNICEF will be mobilizing more humanitarian supplies to support the health, education and psychosocial needs of children and families.
Zakat Foundation of America is providing emergency relief essentials for families in need, including medical supplies and treatment, hygiene kits, tents, floor mats, and food ready for distribution.
Donors Beware
Scammers will exploit your feelings of empathy and compassion during times of crisis as a means of siphoning donations away from legitimate charities and into their own pockets. Read CharityWatch’s advice for avoiding charity frauds and scams:
5 Tips For Avoiding Charity Frauds & Scams
10 Tips For Giving In a Crisis
How “Psychic Numbing” Stops Us From Giving