By YOUSEF MOURAD (Associated Press)
In a bid to aid search efforts for over 10,000 missing and presumed dead individuals, Libyan authorities have limited access to the flooded city of Derna. This devastating disaster has already claimed the lives of more than 11,000 people, and the death toll is expected to rise due to waterborne diseases and shifting explosive ordnance carried by the rushing water when two dams collapsed on Monday.
The tragedy has managed to unify the divided nation of Libya, which has been plagued by war and civil strife. However, the opposing governments in the east and west have struggled to effectively respond to the crisis, leading to confusion, difficulties in distributing aid, and the destruction of infrastructure, including several bridges.
Relief organizations are urging the government to facilitate access to Derna so that they can provide essential supplies such as food, clean water, and medical aid to survivors. The lack of central oversight in the city has resulted in uneven distribution, with some areas receiving support while others are left to fend for themselves.
Teams have begun burying bodies in mass graves outside of Derna and nearby towns, but officials fear that thousands more have yet to be discovered. According to Bilal Sablouh, regional forensics manager for Africa at the International Committee of the Red Cross, bodies are scattered throughout the streets, washing up on the shore, and buried beneath collapsed buildings and debris. The scale of the devastation is undeniable, with one colleague counting over 200 bodies on the beach within just two hours.
Divers are also combing the waters off the coast of Derna in search of additional victims. Adel Ayad, a survivor of the flood, recounted how he witnessed people being swept away from the tops of buildings as the water rose to the fourth floor. Salam al-Fergany, director general of the Ambulance and Emergency Service in eastern Libya, announced plans for the evacuation of Derna’s residents, allowing only search-and-rescue teams to enter. However, as of Friday, there were no signs of an evacuation.
Health officials have warned of the dangers posed by standing water, including the spread of disease. They emphasize the importance of providing access to safe water but also assure that there is no immediate need for rushed burials or mass graves, as bodies do not typically pose a risk in these circumstances. Imene Trabelsi, a spokesperson for the International Committee of the Red Cross, also highlighted the additional threat of landmines and explosives that may have been swept along in the floodwaters.
Trabelsi explained that Libya has long suffered from leftover explosives dating back to World War II and the civil conflict that commenced in 2011. The ability to detect and remove landmines is limited, and the floods may have carried these explosive devices to previously undetected areas, posing a significant danger to search teams and civilians in the long term.
According to the Libyan Red Crescent, the flooding in Derna has resulted in 11,300 deaths as of Thursday, with an additional 10,100 people reported missing. Sadly, hopes of finding many of the missing individuals alive are minimal. The storm also claimed the lives of approximately 170 people in other parts of the country.
Reports from Libyan media indicate that dozens of Sudanese migrants were among those killed in the disaster. Libya has become a major transit point for individuals fleeing conflict and poverty in the Middle East and Africa, seeking refuge in Europe.
This level of destruction in Libya is unprecedented, as floods of this magnitude are rare during the rainy season. Scientists suggest that the storm bears some characteristics of climate change, with warm sea water providing the storm with more energy and causing it to move at a slower pace.
Authorities have acknowledged that Libya’s political chaos has contributed to the extent of the disaster. Khalifa Othman, a resident of Derna, expressed his frustration, blaming authorities for the lack of preparedness as he searches for his missing family members.
Contributors: Associated Press journalists Samy Magdy in Cairo, Jack Jeffery in London, Jamey Keaten in Geneva, and Abby Sewell in Beirut.
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