The UN made a first appeal for gathering pmore than 71 million dollars in order to provide immediate assistance to the approximately 250,000 people most affected by the devastating floods in Libya, which have claimed thousands of lives.

Aid agencies are asking for $71.4 million to “address the most immediate needs of 250,000 people out of an estimated 884,000 in need of assistance, in the next three months”, is underlined in an emergency appeal of the UN Office of Humanitarian Affairs (Ocha).

“This appeal will be updated as more information becomes available,” Ocha said.

On Wednesday Martin Griffiths, head of the agency, released ten million dollars in emergency aid for victims of the disaster in Libya.

“We are all mobilized to offer as much help and support as we can to people,” Griffiths said in the statement.

“The UN is on the ground and we are deploying a strong team to support and fund the international response in cooperation with rescue teams and the Libyan authorities,” he added.

Storm Daniel caused torrential rains due to which two dams on the river flowing through the city of Derna, in eastern Libya, broke during the night of Sunday to Monday. Waves of mud destroyed bridges and roads and washed away buildings along with their occupants. The dead are estimated in the thousands, while access to the affected areas remains particularly difficult. At least 30,000 people have been left homeless in Derna.

In addition to the UN, the US, the EU and many countries in the Middle East and North Africa have pledged to send aid to Libya. Already rescue teams from various countries are working to locate any survivors or dead in the ruins.