Libya

It felt as if we were witnessing a scene from the end of the world — that was the impression our arrival in Derna left on us. The human mind can hardly comprehend what happened.

When I think about what occurred in Derna, two things come to mind: first, what people endured that night; and second, the heavy burden this anniversary carries for the residents of Derna who lost their families and loved ones.

Fares Al-Obeid Communication Officer at Benghazi Office, speaking about what he witnessed during his visit to the flood-affected area in eastern Libya.

Sport helped me overcome my psychological struggles. It lifted me out of a dark place and made me feel whole again.

I was injured in a car accident in 2007. After that, I went through a difficult psychological period that lasted more than a year, and I lost a lot of weight. But my friends stood by me and helped me get through that phase.

I was a basketball player before the injury. Later, I joined a team for persons with disabilities. I didn’t even have a wheelchair at the time — I used to wait for someone to finish using theirs so I could borrow it. But thank God, things eventually worked out.

Younes Al-Senussi from Benghazi

My goal behind this whole project is to build something that will remain for my son in the future, so he won’t need anyone and will have his own source of income. I want to feel reassured about him. My son is my whole life.

Mrs. Fatima She is one of 223 beneficiaries in 2021 of the micro economic initiative program provided by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) in Libya. Through this support, she was able to open a small grocery shop to provide for her only son.

Either you are stronger than the wheelchair, or you let the wheelchair be stronger than you.

I suffered a spinal injury that caused paraplegia as a result of a car accident. Basketball was my hobby, and before my injury, I trained with the able-bodied team for a while.

I went through a very difficult psychological state after the injury, but I told myself: either you are stronger than the wheelchair, or you let the wheelchair be stronger than you.” Thank God, through determination and willpower, I was able to overcome that phase.

After that, I joined a wheelchair basketball team because sport teaches you to rely on yourself above all else, especially in our society, where you have to be that way. Despite the lack of accessible roads and schools, I was still able to excel in my studies.

Mohammed Ali Al-Sudani from Tripoli