Context
The Derna dam collapses were the catastrophic failures of two dams in Derna, Libya on the night of 10–11 September 2023, in the aftermath of Storm Daniel. They caused extreme flooding that partially destroyed the city of Derna, with casualties estimated as over 10,000. The disaster is compounded by conflict in the country, which is split between two rival governments and mired on conflict between different militias.
Since the flooding disaster in Derna, the UNICEF education team has been responding to the crisis by supporting teachers, children and families by establishing temporary learning spaces, providing essential school supplies and setting up an online learning platform.
Our speaker
Vanessa Lee has been leading the education portfolio for UNICEF Libya, working with the Government of Libya to develop the education system and working with children, including refugees, migrants and asylum seekers.
Vanessa has worked in developing contexts in Education for the last 25 years, including in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Malaysia, Singapore and Brunei Darussalam. She is a teacher, teacher training, and curriculum developer and, over the last 15 years, has supported Governments in Education reform initiatives. Vanessa and her family migrated to New Zealand in 2007, and Wellington is home.
The event
This CID Talk will take place online via zoom from 12-1pm Thursday 12 October.
In the talk, we will hear directly from Vanessa on the situation in Derna, including what assistance UNICEF is providing and the challenges they are facing.
Following an update from Vanessa, the audience will get the opportunity to partake in a Q&A session.
A moderator is TBC.
Registration:
Cost
CID members: FREE
Non CID members: $25