The Libyan Ambassador to South Africa has requested help from South African doctors, students and civilians to assist their distraught nation following the impact of Storm Daniel.
More than 11,000 people have died and 10,000 more are missing after the storm had a tsunami-like impact.
Gift of Givers immediately responded with a standby team consisting of 70 people including K9 dogs and handlers.
Founder Dr Imtiaz Sooliman says getting into the country was harder than expected as they unsuccessfully asked for assistance from nine private companies to hire a plane.
"The high-risk situation in Libya with many armed groups, two separate governments and the exorbitant flight insurance made it practically impossible to find a carrier, the one that agreed had a price tag of R16 million," he said.
Concerns over armed groups and issues like hostage-taking were some of the risks raised.
Dr. Sooliman says the Libyan Government offered to send a flight but it was refused for several reasons, mostly safety concerns.
He says Libya requested body bags, formalin, medical supplies, consumables, PPEs, gloves, baby food, fortified food, energy drinks and basically any food that can be prepared without water.
Dr Sooliman says as a plan B they are now arranging clearance with OR Tambo International (ORTIA) for a cargo plane from a private benefactor Al Shifa Holdings, to arrive in the country on Wednesday.
Supplies will then be airlifted from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to Tripoli.
