The Devastating Floods in Eastern Libya
Introduction:
Imagine waking up to a town submerged in water, buildings destroyed, and roads washed away. This was the grim reality for the residents of Derna, an eastern Libyan town that was hit by a torrential storm and catastrophic floods. The devastation caused by this natural disaster has left thousands dead, displaced, and missing, further exacerbating the already chaotic situation in Libya.
The Scope of the Disaster:
The flooding in Derna has resulted in over 5,000 reported deaths, with officials warning that the death toll is expected to rise as more bodies are discovered. The town, which was once home to 100,000 people, was the hardest hit by Storm Daniel, which swept across the North African country over the weekend. Collapsing dams worsened the situation, unleashing torrents of water that ravaged entire neighborhoods and left behind a trail of destruction.
The dysfunctional state of Libya, with rival governments in the east and west, has contributed to the difficulties in accurately assessing the scale of the disaster. While officials have given varying figures for the death toll, it is estimated that thousands of people have lost their lives. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) reported that an alarming 10,000 individuals are believed to be missing.
Challenges in Rescue Efforts:
The aftermath of the flooding has posed significant challenges for rescue workers in Derna. The destruction of main roads has made it difficult for emergency services to reach affected areas, cutting off access to essential supplies and assistance. Additionally, the loss of electricity and disruption of communication further hamper rescue efforts.
Social media platforms have been flooded with videos and images showcasing the enormous destruction in Derna. Buildings have been reduced to rubble, vehicles overturned, and the ground lined with plastic body bags containing the remains of the victims. The scale of devastation is incomprehensible.
The Impact on Displacement and the Fragile State:
Beyond the loss of lives, the flooding in Libya has led to a significant number of people being displaced. The International Organization for Migration estimates that more than 30,000 individuals have been forced to flee their homes due to the floods. This further adds to the already dire humanitarian situation in the country.
Since the overthrow of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya has been plagued by chaos and conflict. The power vacuum left behind led to a civil war as rival factions vied for control, resulting in a fragmented nation. The divisions between the Tripoli-based government and the eastern administration, led by renegade general Khalifa Haftar, have deepened the political and social unrest.
The weak state and fragmented governance structures in Libya have hindered effective disaster response and recovery. Western states mostly engage with the UN-backed government in Tripoli, which is recognized as the legitimate authority. This exclusion of the eastern administration further complicates efforts to address the devastating aftermath of the floods.
The International Response:
In the face of this humanitarian crisis, the international community has taken steps to support relief efforts in Libya. The United Nations, through its humanitarian chief Martin Griffiths, has allocated $10 million in emergency funds to aid those affected by the floods. United States President Joe Biden has also pledged emergency funds to agencies working on the ground.
Neighboring countries have also extended a helping hand. Turkey dispatched three cargo planes carrying aid, including search and rescue specialists, tents, generators, raincoats, and torches. Egypt has announced its intention to send soldiers and helicopters to assist with reconstruction work in the flood-ravaged areas.
Conclusion:
The devastating floods in Derna and the broader impact on Libya highlight the urgent need for international support and collaboration to address the aftermath of this natural disaster. The loss of lives, displacement of tens of thousands of people, and the fragile state of the country necessitate concerted efforts to provide humanitarian assistance, facilitate recovery, and build resilience for the future.
Summary:
In the wake of a torrential storm, catastrophic floods ravaged the eastern Libyan town of Derna, resulting in over 5,000 reported deaths and thousands more missing. The scale of destruction caused by collapsing dams and the subsequent torrents of water has left the town devastated, with buildings reduced to rubble and roads washed away. Rescue efforts have been hampered by the destruction of infrastructure, loss of communication, and limited access to affected areas. The flooding has also exacerbated the already fragile state of Libya, with rival governments and a fragmented governance structure hindering effective disaster response. The international community has mobilized to provide support, with the United Nations allocating emergency funds and neighboring countries sending aid and relief teams. The challenges ahead are immense, requiring global cooperation to address the humanitarian crisis, facilitate recovery, and build resilience for the future.
—————————————————-
| Article | Link |
|---|---|
| UK Artful Impressions | Premiere Etsy Store |
| Sponsored Content | View |
| 90’s Rock Band Review | View |
| Ted Lasso’s MacBook Guide | View |
| Nature’s Secret to More Energy | View |
| Ancient Recipe for Weight Loss | View |
| MacBook Air i3 vs i5 | View |
| You Need a VPN in 2023 – Liberty Shield | View |
Receive free updates on Libya
We will send you a myFT daily summary email summarizing the latest Libya news every morning.
More than 5,000 bodies have been found in this eastern Libyan town devastated by floods that swept away buildings, roads and bridges, Libyan officials and aid workers said.
Osama Ali, a spokesperson for Libya’s Ambulance and Emergency Center, said the number of dead dolls in Derna, where two dams collapsed after a torrential storm, had reached 5,100 people.
The town of 100,000 was hit hardest after Storm Daniel hit the North African country over the weekend. THE flood The situation in Derna was made worse by collapsing dams, officials said, with torrents of water rushing through the town and destroying entire neighborhoods.
Hichem Abu Chkiouat, civil aviation minister in the administration that rules eastern Libya, told Reuters the death toll stood at 5,300, adding that it was expected to rise because “the sea constantly dumps dozens of bodies” in Derna, on Libya’s Mediterranean coast.
Officials in Libya, a dysfunctional state with rival governments in the east and west, gave varying figures for the death toll as it sought to find bodies hidden under rubble and mud. But thousands of people are believed to have died. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) said on Tuesday that 10,000 people are believed to be missing.
Officials said rescue workers had difficulty reaching parts of Derna because main roads had been washed away and turned into rivers. Electricity and communications within the city were also cut.
Videos and images posted on social media show enormous destruction, with buildings reduced to rubble and vehicles overturned. Corpses in plastic body bags were lined up on the ground.
The International Organization for Migration said Wednesday that more than 30,000 people had been displaced by the flooding.
Libya has been wracked by years of chaos and conflict in the years since the overthrow of dictator Muammar Gaddafi after a popular uprising in 2011. That spiraled into civil war as rival factions carved up the country rich in oil into a mosaic of fiefdoms.
The country has competing governments based in Tripoli, the capital, and eastern Libya, which has been under the control for years of Khalifa Haftar, a renegade general who leads the Libyan national army.
The divisions have spilled over into public institutions, leaving the state weak and fractured. Western states generally do not engage with the eastern administration, as the UN-backed government in Tripoli is considered the internationally recognized authority.
Martin Griffiths, the UN’s humanitarian chief, said on social media that the storm had “cost thousands of lives” and that the UN was allocating $10 million in emergency funds to support relief efforts. .
US President Joe Biden said on Tuesday that Washington was sending emergency funds to agencies working on the disaster.
Turkey sent three cargo planes to the city of Benghazi, with 168 search and rescue specialists and other aid, including tents, generators, raincoats and torches. Neighboring Egypt also announced it would send soldiers and helicopters to help with reconstruction work.
—————————————————-