The Mediterranean storm Daniel caused two dams to collapse in Derna, leading to a surge of water that tore through the city. Al-Hassadi and thousands of other residents remain in Derna, anxiously awaiting news about their missing relatives. Al-Hassadi is still searching for his 290 missing relatives. Government officials estimate that a quarter of the city was inundated by the floods, resulting in the deaths of thousands of people. However, there are conflicting reports on the exact death toll.
The World Health Organization reports that hospitals have registered 3,958 deaths, but the head of Libya’s Red Crescent stated that at least 11,300 people were killed. The U.N. Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs states that there are at least 9,000 people still missing. The International Committee of the Red Cross spokesperson, Bashir Omar, confirms that the fatalities are in the thousands, but there is no specific count of the bodies recovered due to multiple groups involved in the recovery efforts. Desperate to identify their loved ones, many Derna residents, including women and children, spend their days at collection points for bodies, closely inspecting the body bags carried by ambulances.
In the Sheiha neighborhood, a school is displaying photos of the retrieved bodies. Anas Aweis, a 24-year-old resident who lost two brothers, visited the school in search of his missing father and four cousins. However, the situation is chaotic, with long lines and no clear information about where the bodies are being buried.
The floods have displaced around 40,000 people in eastern Libya, including 30,000 in Derna, according to the U.N.’s migration agency. Many have sought shelter in other cities within Libya, finding refuge with local communities or in schools. Staying in Derna poses risks of waterborne diseases. Rana Ksaifi, assistant chief of mission in Libya for the U.N.’s refugee agency, describes the floods as causing immense destruction and triggering further displacement in a nation already ravaged by conflict.
Abdul Salam Anwisi, whose building survived the floods, lives in a 4th-floor apartment with houseplants on the rooftop. Anwisi and a few other families sought safety on the roof, fearing they wouldn’t survive. Now, as Anwisi sifts through the wreckage of his water-damaged home, he is uncertain about what comes next. He believes that everything is in God’s hands. Meanwhile, the nation demands accountability from its leaders. Hundreds of protesters gathered outside Derna’s main mosque, criticizing the government’s lack of preparedness and response. These protesters direct their anger towards the political class that has controlled the oil-rich nation since the overthrow and death of former dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011.
Libya has been in chaos since a NATO-backed uprising toppled and killed Gadhafi. For the past decade, the country has been divided between two rival administrations. One, in the west, is backed by lawless militias and armed groups, while the other, in the east, is allied with General Khalifa Hifter’s self-styled Libyan National Army. Both governments suppress dissent.
Derna, along with the eastern and most of the southern parts of Libya, is under the control of Hifter’s forces. However, the rival government in the capital city, Tripoli, controls the funds for municipalities and other government agencies.
Al-Hassadi, the law graduate, blames local authorities for issuing conflicting warnings to residents, leaving many defenseless. They instructed residents to evacuate coastal areas but simultaneously imposed a curfew, preventing people from leaving their homes. Al-Hassadi believes that imposing a curfew was a mistake.
The two dams, Abu Mansour and Derna, were constructed by a Yugoslav company in the 1970s to protect the city from severe flooding. However, a lack of maintenance over the years rendered them unable to withstand the unusually high volume of water. Many Libyans are now demanding an international investigation and supervision of aid funds, as they believe corruption is rampant.
Rights activist Tarik Lamloum asserts, “Everyone here is corrupt…without exception.” Magdy reported from Cairo.
Denial of responsibility! Vigour Times is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
