floods in libya's east. all of his family's dead. he is asking me, what should i do? no—one knows what should we do right now. a destructive wall of water — sweeps through the city of derna — bodies are still being recovered. as the death toll rises, we'll hear from witnesses on the ground — from the red crescent — and from a former foreign minister in libya. welcome to verified live on bbc news. over the next half hour we're going to focus entirely on the horrifying situation in libya. more than 5,00 people are now known to have died, in devastating floods that hit the east of the country. these are the pictures from derna — with people describing a tsunnami of water hitting the city, after two dams collapsed. it is total destruction —

only three of the city's 10 districts remain recognisable. more than 10,000 people are still missing — the authorities fear the death toll will double. people are desperately searching for relatives under collapsed buildings and the mud. all the details are disturbing — more than 3a,000 people are now homeless. witnesses talk of the sea constantly depositing bodies on the shoreline. before i show you more of the aftermath, have a look at the moments the floodwater actually hit this city — the power, the speed, the force, sweeping everything away. people describe the land, just disappearing in an instant. aid agencies on the ground talk of an overwhelming need for everything — from water, shelter, medicine, rescue teams, with clinic and hospitals in the east of the country overwhelmed by the injured. offers of international help have been coming in but the rescue operation has been made more difficult by the complicated political

situation in libya — the country is split with an internationally recognised government in tripoli, and a rival government in the east. on this programme, we'll hear what it's like in derna. we'll talk to aid agencies, to politicians running that part of the country, to our teams here and in the region as we try to bring you the latest on this unfolding situation. let's start with the human toll — this is one description of what it's like in derna, from a libyan journalist who spoke to the bbc. my friend, i am staying with him right now, to support him, because when we were preparing for this interview with the bbc, i heard while i was next to him the news of the death of his full family. his mother, his father, his two brothers, his sister, marianne, and his wife, newly married wife, which he sent to libya to visit his familyjust two weeks ago.

and his little kid, fosie, who is eight months old. all of those died. he is asking me, what should i do? no—one knows what we should do right now. all of the people that we know, when we ask what happened to this person, what happened to that person, they tell us that their whole families are dead. devastating account. live now to tommaso della longa — from the international federation of red cross and red crescent societies. thank societies. you forjoining us on the programme. thank you forjoining us on the programme. give me a sense of the scale of what your staff are dealing with. . «a scale of what your staff are dealing with. . ., ., scale of what your staff are dealing with. ., ., ., ~ with. thanks for having me. well, the scale is _ with. thanks for having me. well, the scale is huge. _ with. thanks for having me. well, the scale is huge. i _ with. thanks for having me. well, the scale is huge. i mean, - with. thanks for having me. well, the scale is huge. i mean, what i with. thanks for having me. well, | the scale is huge. i mean, what are the scale is huge. i mean, what are the libyan red crescent teams that are in the field are telling us is

that something like a bombardment and an earthquake are happening at the same time. so it's really what they are telling us, the stories of entire cities that are not any more there. villagers that are completely destroyed, and thousands of families that are, at the moment, they really need everything. the that are, at the moment, they really need everything-— need everything. the waters hit so cuickl , it need everything. the waters hit so quickly. it was _ need everything. the waters hit so quickly, it was so _ need everything. the waters hit so quickly, it was so powerful. - need everything. the waters hit so quickly, it was so powerful. are i need everything. the waters hit so | quickly, it was so powerful. are you still finding survivors within the wreckage, within the mud. unfortunately, we know that the window will close in the next hours, but hope is still there. the other point is also to make sure people will not stay in a dangerous place. in terms of what is required on the ground, the norwegian refugee council were saying that there is a need for just about council were saying that there is a need forjust about everything, for food, medicine, water, shelter, even body bags. is that what you are

finding? body bags. is that what you are findina? ~ , , , body bags. is that what you are findin? , , , _, finding? absolutely, yes, i can echo what ou finding? absolutely, yes, i can echo what you just _ finding? absolutely, yes, i can echo what you just said. _ finding? absolutely, yes, i can echo what you just said. there _ finding? absolutely, yes, i can echo what you just said. there is - finding? absolutely, yes, i can echo what you just said. there is the - what you just said. there is the need of almost everything, yes. and there are huge humanitarian priorities and concerns. health reasons, but food, water, shelter, we know that people are staying in makeshift shelters, schools that are still there, but of course these are temporary accommodation and we need to find a sustainable solution for thousands of people affected by this. really heavy, violent flooding. this. really heavy, violent flooding-— this. really heavy, violent flooding. this. really heavy, violent floodinu. ., . ., ., ., flooding. how much aid so far have ou been flooding. how much aid so far have you been able _ flooding. how much aid so far have you been able to _ flooding. how much aid so far have you been able to get _ flooding. how much aid so far have you been able to get in? _ flooding. how much aid so far have you been able to get in? well, - flooding. how much aid so far have you been able to get in? well, the | you been able to get in? well, the aood you been able to get in? well, the good news. _ you been able to get in? well, the good news. i _ you been able to get in? well, the good news, i would _ you been able to get in? well, the good news, i would same - you been able to get in? well, the good news, i would same in - you been able to get in? well, the good news, i would same in the i you been able to get in? well, the l good news, i would same in the red cross and red crescent national society media team immobilised, to give you an idea, the british teams arrived, with search and rescue teams, medical personnel, we heard about them going on. we had an appeal of 10 million swiss francs, to cover the emergency efforts. the

real point is that we still don't have a clear picture of the situation. we really need to have an analysis and assessment of the needs, and to avoid overwhelming, bringing more into an already chaotic situation. 0ver bringing more into an already chaotic situation. over the next few hours will have more of a picture of what is next. hours will have more of a picture of what is next-— what is next. that is absolutely vital, i what is next. that is absolutely vital. i was _ what is next. that is absolutely vital, i was reading _ what is next. that is absolutely vital, i was reading some - what is next. that is absolutely vital, i was reading some of. what is next. that is absolutely| vital, i was reading some of the detail, over30,000 vital, i was reading some of the detail, over 30,000 people have lost absolutely everything. they need basic shelter and cover, don't they? they need everything. as you said, exactly. that is the point. the reality is that this is not an emergency that will last for a week or a month, this will go for the months to come, probably years. so we need solidarity and support not only now, but really in the future. the good news, once we hearfrom only now, but really in the future. the good news, once we hear from the people in libya, the libyan red crescent, is that there is a huge wave of solidarity also inside libya. people are mobilising, from east to west, to health, to

volunteer, to give funds, and this is a positive news. we volunteer, to give funds, and this is a positive news.— volunteer, to give funds, and this is a positive news. we will touch on that in a moment _ is a positive news. we will touch on that in a moment on _ is a positive news. we will touch on that in a moment on our _ is a positive news. we will touch on l that in a moment on our programme, because it is such a complicated political backdrop in libya, would split governments and all of those issues that come into your consideration as well. a final thought, because i have been reading disturbing detail about bodies coming in, being deposited on the shoreline, every few minutes. that is what is happening on the ground, on a human level, what are your staff actually going through? fiur staff actually going through? our staff, our staff actually going through? oi" staff, our volunteers, are devastated. to think about the fact our volunteers are trained people, part of the communities, they are affected themselves. we are talking about teams that probably lost their relatives, families and friends, but still they are responding to the emergency. if i may add, unfortunately we lost three volu nteers unfortunately we lost three volunteers from the libyan red crescent while they were trying to save lives. this gives you really the idea of how much it was

complicated to respond to this flooding, and how much it was a situation that affected completely an entire community. ilil" situation that affected completely an entire community. our sympathies for that, an entire community. our sympathies for that. thank— an entire community. our sympathies for that, thank you _ an entire community. our sympathies for that, thank you so _ an entire community. our sympathies for that, thank you so much _ an entire community. our sympathies for that, thank you so much for - for that, thank you so much for taking time out from an enormous amount of work to actually talk to us live here on bbc news. thank you very much for your time. let's get more about what the situation is like and how it is unfolding. let's hear more from our colleague on the verify team. we hear more from our colleague on the verify team-— verify team. we have been going throu~h verify team. we have been going through some — verify team. we have been going through some of _ verify team. we have been going through some of the _ verify team. we have been going through some of the videos - verify team. we have been going l through some of the videos coming into us from the floods in libya. this is the latest one i have been able to verify. this one shows the city of derna, which has been the most impacted in terms of destruction and, indeed, when it comes to the number of casualties. you can see these images from daylight that really show the true extent of the damage on the coastal

city in the east of libya. now, let's get a map to give you a sense of where things are. this is the eastern side of libya, benghazi, a city that is the most popular on the eastern side of the country, when you may have heard of. these are the cities on the mediterranean coast which have also been impacted. this, of course, is derna that we talked about. this is the mountain range. we will just about. this is the mountain range. we willjust remain a little bit here. this is a close—up image of derna. as you can see, these are the two dams that were both breached in the aftermath of storm daniel, leading to that devastation. just remember these dams, because we are going to look at satellite imagery of derna. these images show derna before the floods hit the area. it's a very built—up area, a population of around 90 or 100,000. i'm just going to show you the mosques down here. this is useful, because when

we have been verifying videos, we have been using that as a reference point to check the authenticity and the location of some of the footage that we have been getting in. just going to move to this. this really does look different, doesn't it? it shows you the extent of the damage that the floods have caused. a reminder here that this is the mosque again that you can see here, just how much has been washed away what was once a really built—up area. you can see the road that was attacked before completely gone. we do have more detailed satellite images as well. we talked about the two dams earlier, this is the one thatis two dams earlier, this is the one that is closest to the city. look at this, it is the road that runs over the dam. it is intact there, in this before footage. but if we are able to sweep this across, you can see the same road, much of it has gone and you can see how things have been

washed away. you can see these body bags starting to appear in derna, as the death toll goes up. the authorities in the east of the country say that more than 5300 people have died so far in the floods. they say they feel the death toll could dramatically increase in the coming hours. at bbc verify we will watch all of the videos that are coming into us and bring you more as and when we have it. we can now talk to a libyan official, your reaction to the disaster that has hit your country? mohamed dayri,

you know the city so well, it must be so distressing to watch so much of it simply swift away?— of it simply swift away? indeed, i know derna. _ of it simply swift away? indeed, i know derna, because _ of it simply swift away? indeed, i know derna, because my - of it simply swift away? indeed, i know derna, because my wife - of it simply swift away? indeed, i know derna, because my wife is l of it simply swift away? indeed, i - know derna, because my wife is from that town. my wife's family has suffered a great deal. we have lost a number of people, more than ten people have died yesterday. but others have been decimated by the fresh floods that have swept across their land. they have sent people into the sea, as you mentioned earlier. i know derna, buti into the sea, as you mentioned earlier. i know derna, but i also know the people who have prevailed in derna. indeed, there has been a great amount of solidarity inside libya,

but there has also been some anger and some desperate people, because of the lack of preparedness before the start of the emergency from the hurricane. and the slowness of the response so far. unfortunately, the national and international assistance has been slow. and we are witnessing a new wave of assistance thatis witnessing a new wave of assistance that is coming through from arab countries. ., . ., . countries. you reference the fact that we have _ countries. you reference the fact that we have split _ countries. you reference the fact that we have split authorities - countries. you reference the fact that we have split authorities in l that we have split authorities in libya. when you hear the tripoli based government, saying foreign aid will be evaluated before it is

accepted, is that the right approach?— accepted, is that the right a- roach? , ., , accepted, is that the right auroach? , ., , ., accepted, is that the right a- roach? , ., , ., ., approach? they need to carry out an assessment- — approach? they need to carry out an assessment. that _ approach? they need to carry out an assessment. that is _ approach? they need to carry out an assessment. that is a _ approach? they need to carry out an assessment. that is a prerequisite l assessment. that is a prerequisite to any international aid. you have reported the refugee council has said that every thing is badly neededin said that every thing is badly needed in turner. food and medical assistance. they need a commitment to take out the rubble, the survivors and the deceased people from under the rubble. d0 survivors and the deceased people from under the rubble.— survivors and the deceased people from under the rubble. do you think the scale of — from under the rubble. do you think the scale of what _ from under the rubble. do you think the scale of what the _ from under the rubble. do you think the scale of what the country - from under the rubble. do you think the scale of what the country is - the scale of what the country is dealing with will actually bring these two sides together, the rival authorities, the internationally

recognised government, are they likely to be able to work together to respond to all of this? is that realistic, given everything we have seen over the years? i realistic, given everything we have seen over the years?— seen over the years? i mentioned earlier that _ seen over the years? i mentioned earlier that has _ seen over the years? i mentioned earlier that has been _ seen over the years? i mentioned earlier that has been a _ seen over the years? i mentioned earlier that has been a great - seen over the years? i mentioned earlier that has been a great deal| earlier that has been a great deal of anger. we have been opposed by the lack of coordination between the governments. there was a joint emergency rule between the two governments. it's time we put aside the political divide, and we will tackle this catastrophic situation thatis tackle this catastrophic situation that is at hand. for the time being, the two governance are not speaking to each other. it is something that will be jointly done between the

channels, so it needs an assessment under call international aid. {sheen under call international aid. given what ou under call international aid. given what you have — under call international aid. given what you have said _ under call international aid. given what you have said about - under call international aid. given what you have said about the - under call international aid. given what you have said about the two side is not working together, how does the international community navigate a way through that, to offer assistance and help on the ground? i offer assistance and help on the round? ~ , offer assistance and help on the round? ~' , ., offer assistance and help on the round? ~ , . . ground? i think they have been ”ramatic ground? i think they have been pragmatic and _ ground? i think they have been pragmatic and realistic. - ground? i think they have been pragmatic and realistic. they i ground? i think they have been i pragmatic and realistic. they have been talking to both governments and some of their assistance has been channelled directly to the east, and others has been coordinated with the government in tripoli. at the time being, it is a pathetic state of affairs. and this is due to the idiotic situation. we should call a spade a spade. i think it is due to this foolishness that has prevailed in the country, by those who are on the forefront of our public affairs in western libya and eastern libya. we have to leave it there, but

thanks for being so forthright and honest in your opinions. thanks for joining us here on bbc news. let me show you more of the pictures on the ground. we are still very much in the early stages since sunday's floodwaters hit. you can see some of the relief operations being carried out. it was described as doomsday by one libyan journalist there in derna. when you look at the landscape, when you look at the power of the waters and the damage done, you see what is happening with individuals just searching for their families. there has been an appeal for more international help, rescue teams, that is what they kept repeating. you can see the skyline, just the utter devastation. they need rescue teams because they are still hoping to pull out of people from all of this, the collapsed

buildings, the mud. all the while, there are reports of new bodies washing up and being found, the number of people who have perished in this devastation, as you can see on the screen, is now over 5300. you are lined with bbc news. let's continue with this with frank gardner, our security correspondent, in the studio with me. it was fascinating, listening to a former foreign minister, mohamed dayri, so blunt in his assessment about the fact that you have polarised politics in libya. that is making the relief operations so much more difficult? he the relief operations so much more difficult? u, ., . difficult? he called it a pathetic state of affairs, _ difficult? he called it a pathetic state of affairs, which - difficult? he called it a pathetic state of affairs, which is - difficult? he called it a pathetic state of affairs, which is pretty| state of affairs, which is pretty harsh. the reality is that libya has never really recovered from the arab spring revolution of 2011. a42 years, spring revolution of 2011. 442 years, this is a country that has been ruled with an iron fist by gaddafi's regime. it was a vile, oppressive regime, which did not

leave in place any institutions. libyan is used to say to me when i went today, libyan government minders say we don't need government here, because the people rule. which was nonsense. the people didn't have any power whatsoever. it was gaddafi's clan and entourage that ruled the country. remove all of that and you get a vacuum. libya todayis that and you get a vacuum. libya today is plagued by some endemic problems of warlords, tribalism, and the fact you have these two rival governments, one in the west, in tripoli, which is the government of national unity, the internationally recognised one, that is backed by most of the western world, turkey and others, then in the east you have got what is called the national parliament, which sounds very democratic. the real power is a warlord, backed by russia, egypt and others. in amongst the mix you have isis hovering around. they have been more or less repressed for the time being. but derna was always a

stronghold of islamist opposition for central government back in tripoli, even under gaddafi. so the mountains where these floods originated was always a stronghold of rebels, and that is one of the reasons why it has been under resourced. reasons why it has been under resourced-— reasons why it has been under resourced. that is the political backdro - resourced. that is the political backdrop that _ resourced. that is the political backdrop that you _ resourced. that is the political backdrop that you touch - resourced. that is the political backdrop that you touch on, i resourced. that is the political - backdrop that you touch on, exactly where i wanted to go, the infrastructure. we know that was in such disrepair. is that part of the problem here? part of the difficulties of some of the solutions and relief efforts? these two dams were — solutions and relief efforts? these two dams were built _ solutions and relief efforts? these two dams were built by _ solutions and relief efforts? these two dams were built by yugoslav l two dams were built by yugoslav engineers in the 19705. they two dam5 were built by yugoslav engineers in the 19705. they are 50 years old and they have not been properly maintained. they were made of clay, with a stone carapace, and they were not built to withstand the sort of pressure of this storm that delivered this huge amount of rainfall to them. the first one broke, and then it ru5hed downhill, and broke the second one, which was only a short distance up5tream

and broke the second one, which was only a short distance upstream from derna, hence the catastrophe we have seen. . ~' derna, hence the catastrophe we have seen. . ~ ., derna, hence the catastrophe we have seen. ., ~' ., , seen. frank gardner, thanks very much. seen. frank gardner, thanks very much- let's _ seen. frank gardner, thanks very much. let's take _ seen. frank gardner, thanks very much. let's take a _ seen. frank gardner, thanks very much. let's take a step _ seen. frank gardner, thanks very much. let's take a step back. - seen. frank gardner, thanks very i much. let's take a step back. chris much. let's take a step back. chri5 fawke5 from bbc weather joins us much. let's take a step back. chri5 fawke5 from bbc weatherjoins us to tell us more about the storm but actually it. chri5, there were warnings, but the impact has been devastating?— warnings, but the impact has been devastating? storm daniel brought some extreme _ devastating? storm daniel brought some extreme rainfall— devastating? storm daniel brought some extreme rainfall to _ devastating? storm daniel brought some extreme rainfall to the - devastating? storm daniel brought some extreme rainfall to the north| 5ome extreme rainfall to the north of libya. 0ver 5ome extreme rainfall to the north of libya. over 400 millimetres of rain, the equivalent of two thirds of a year's worth for london, falling in 24 hours. we can see the damage from space, if you like. before, you can see lots of sand dunes here, on the satellite dune5 here, on the satellite picture. dunes here, on the satellite picture. in the aftermath of the storm, you can see big floods in the river catchments. the high ground to the north i5 river catchments. the high ground to the north is just river catchments. the high ground to the north isjust draining down into the north isjust draining down into the one river, which then flows towards derna, bringing some catastrophic destruction. a5 towards derna, bringing some catastrophic destruction. as it arrived, this is how storm daniel looked. daniel is an example of what

is known as a mediterranean cyclone. the5e is known as a mediterranean cyclone. these are hybrid weather systems that are somewhere between, on the one hand, a hurricane, and a normal mid—latitude area of low pressure driven by the jet stream. if we rollback about ten or 11 days ago, you can see this area of cloud syncing southwards into the mediterranean. thi5 syncing southwards into the mediterranean. this was driven by a trough in thejet mediterranean. this was driven by a trough in the jet stream, and mediterranean. this was driven by a trough in thejet stream, and it is this that brought cool air high above the earth's surface, over the warm waters in the mediterranean, an explosive combination that created massive thunderstorms. and once we start to get these to develop, then the sea temperatures take over, just like they do with hurricanes. the5e 5ea5 are like they do with hurricanes. the5e 5eas are 26 or 30 celsius. so there is plenty of heat there to power such explosive development. you will 5uch explosive development. you will remember the fourth and 5th of september, 780 miller metres of rain fell in parts of greece, bringing catastrophic flooding. storm daniel whizzed around the mediterranean for about a week, before making second landfall across the north—east of

libya. the5e landfall across the north—east of libya. these systems very much have characteristics associated with tropical storms, with the enormous amount of rain pouring down the river catchments, flowing towards those dams, causing destruction of the and utter devastation in derna itself. . the and utter devastation in derna itself. , _, ., ., ,, ,, itself. lets continue to assess the situation and _ itself. lets continue to assess the situation and talk _ itself. lets continue to assess the situation and talk to _ itself. lets continue to assess the situation and talk to peter- itself. lets continue to assess the situation and talk to peter miller, | situation and talk to peter miller, british ambassador to libya from 2015-18. your assessment of what we are seeing unfolding there in libya? i think it is acid of the awful. words can't really describe what we are seeing and all of the pictures you have been showing. i have talked to a number of libyans, particularly those that have family in derna. it has gone from shock and disbelief to anger and blame. has gone from shock and disbelief to angerand blame. ithink has gone from shock and disbelief to anger and blame. i think libyans are coming together. the libyan people, libyan citizens themselves are coming together. that is why it is

so important that as mohamed dayri said, that it is not politicised and not used for political purposes and grandstanding, and that all of the authorities come together and coordinate their response in the most effective way possible, to relieve the horrible tragedy that we are seeing in derna and the other cities around the east. it are seeing in derna and the other cities around the east.— are seeing in derna and the other cities around the east. it remains a ho e, cities around the east. it remains a hoe, at cities around the east. it remains a hope. at this _ cities around the east. it remains a hope, at this stage, _ cities around the east. it remains a hope, at this stage, doesn't - cities around the east. it remains a hope, at this stage, doesn't it, - cities around the east. it remains a hope, at this stage, doesn't it, go| hope, at this stage, doesn't it, go in the history, given what mohammed wasjust describing in the history, given what mohammed was just describing about the initial hours after these floodwaters had.- initial hours after these floodwaters had. , ., �* , floodwaters had. yes, that's right. i think as frank— floodwaters had. yes, that's right. i think as frank gardner _ floodwaters had. yes, that's right. i think as frank gardner said - floodwaters had. yes, that's right. i think as frank gardner said just l i think as frank gardner said just now, part of this is the legacy of gaddafi. since 2011, the lack of institutions, the lack of effective planning, the lack of investment in infrastructure. when you look as i do, ifollow libya infrastructure. when you look as i do, i follow libya so infrastructure. when you look as i do, ifollow libya so much, the budget which comes in, the oil revenues are coming in, large amounts of money are coming into the central bank, but most of that money

is being spent on salaries and subsidies. budgets over the last few years have not been investing in development, in maintenance, let alone the rebuilding and infrastructure. we are seeing the results of that now.— infrastructure. we are seeing the results of that now. how, given all of that, should _ results of that now. how, given all of that, should the _ results of that now. how, given all of that, should the international. of that, should the international community be acting right now? the community be acting right now? iie: international community be acting right now? "iie: international community community be acting right now? ii2 international community has community be acting right now? i““i2 international community has been very divided over libya over the last ten or 12 years. working through the united nations is the way to bring both the libyan people together, and the international community together. i think the role of the red crescent, also, because they have a presence on the ground, as you have been describing. they can do the gap analysis or the means analysis, there was a big, international institutions are the ones that can articulate what is needed and deliver it more effectively. needed and deliver it more effectively-— needed and deliver it more effectivel . ' . , needed and deliver it more effectivel. ' . , , effectively. more effectively, but in terms of— effectively. more effectively, but in terms of the _ effectively. more effectively, but in terms of the obstacles - effectively. more effectively, but in terms of the obstacles we - effectively. more effectively, but in terms of the obstacles we are | in terms of the obstacles we are

talking about, it becomes very, very difficult to actually get the aid thatis difficult to actually get the aid that is required to wear it is required. there is a timeline as well? it required. there is a timeline as well? . . required. there is a timeline as well? , ., ., ., ., well? it is a remote area. there isn't an airport _ well? it is a remote area. there isn't an airport in _ well? it is a remote area. there isn't an airport in the _ well? it is a remote area. there | isn't an airport in the immediate facility. there are airports on the mountains, which can be used, but getting down into this area is going to be difficult.— to be difficult. thank you very much. to be difficult. thank you very much- we _ to be difficult. thank you very much. we are _ to be difficult. thank you very much. we are almost - to be difficult. thank you very much. we are almost out - to be difficult. thank you very much. we are almost out of l to be difficult. thank you very - much. we are almost out of time. i will leave it there. thanks for joining us on thanks for giving that assessment in terms of the political backdrop and the most urgent questions that need to be answered. and, of course, that timeline is narrowing all the time, with the search is going on for possible survivors. so, let's end this half hour where we started, just returning to the sheer scale of this disaster, the death toll i5 returning to the sheer scale of this disaster, the death toll is already over 5300. disaster, the death toll is already over5300. but disaster, the death toll is already over 5300. but those numbers are expected to rise quite markedly.

that is what the assessment from all of the authorities there in the country is saying. already, people are being buried in mass graves around derna, but that is just one of the cities worst affected. the focus is obviously on that, but also on helping the thousands of people who have been left with absolutely nothing. 34,000 people at least without shelter. the aid agencies are trying to get supplies in, but just about everything is working against them. the infrastructure, fractured politics in libya, the magnitude of what is actually facing them. stay with us on bbc news as we continue to report the latest on the ground there, on this disaster in libya. hello, there. i suppose a reversal of fortunes, weather—wise.

yesterday, scotland and northern ireland had the best weather, today it is a land in wales enjoying the best weather with some 5un5hine coming through in staffordshire. across the north—west of the uk, low pressure is lurking in the atlantic, and that is pushing ever—thickening cloud towards northern ireland and scotland, with rain already starting to push its way in. the rain will turn progressively steadier and heavier for northern ireland and western scotland through the afternoon. east scotland, clouding over, but probably still bright and dry for most of the afternoon. for england and wales, sunny spells, temperatures high teens or low 205. not feeling too bad in that 5un5hine. 0vernight, the low pressure will continue to push rain northwards and eastwards. it will get windy for northern areas of scotland with gales across the north west for a time. as the band of rain sinks southwards from scotla 0vernight tonight nd and northern ireland into england and wales, it will start to weaken. the rain won't be that intense as it pushes into north wales and northern areas of england. here is that weather front, continuing it5journey southwards into thursday, bumping into this area of high pressure.

that is why the front is not particularly active, the high pressure tending to 5qui5h it. thursday, band of rain across parts of wales, the midlands, lincolnshire. not really moving very far through the day. the rain is probably quite light and patchy. to the north—west, you might see a few showers. it will stay windy for northern areas of scotland all day. there will be spells of sunshine. the south—east could become quite warm and humid again. temperatures 23 or 24 degrees in warmest spots. from thursday into friday, the weather front changes its mind and starts pushing back northwards, taking some heavier rain across wales, the midlands, into northern england and through friday that rain will start to make inroads across northern ireland and scotland, whereas further south england and wales, sunny spells, maybe an odd isolated shower. starting to feel a bit warmer, perhaps a bit more humid with temperatures back into the mid 205. with cloud and rain in the north, it will not be a particularly warm here. into the weekend, a bit of a battle zone.