The devastating floods that struck eastern Libya have left the region in a state of utter destruction. In Derna, torrential rains caused two dams to burst, unleashing a massive wall of water that engulfed the city, leaving its inhabitants stranded. Entire neighborhoods were swept away, and bodies are now washing up on the shore. The death toll stands at over 6,000, with 10,000 people reported missing. Unfortunately, due to entire families being swept away, there may be no survivors to account for some of the losses. With other towns and settlements also affected, tens of thousands have been displaced.
The horror and despair felt by the Libyan people is compounded by their anger towards the rival governments that have divided the country and prioritized their own interests over the needs of the people. Elham Saudi, director of Lawyers for Justice in Libya, describes the aftermath of Storm Daniel as a manmade catastrophe, resulting from corruption, lack of infrastructure, impunity, and the suppression of civil society leaders. She calls for anger to be directed at a system that allowed this tragedy to unfold.
While it is too early to determine the exact role of the climate crisis in the severity of Storm Daniel, it is evident that global warming is contributing to the increasing frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, including flooding. Recent events in Hong Kong and Greece, characterized by record-breaking rainfall and infrastructure collapse, serve as a warning of what lies ahead if adequate measures to mitigate climate change and reduce carbon emissions are not implemented.
The situation in Libya exemplifies the disastrous consequences of governments failing to protect their citizens and exacerbating their vulnerability. Following Muammar Gaddafi’s corrupt regime, the country has been ravaged by revolution, civil war, and political deadlock for over a decade. Essential infrastructure, such as Derna’s dams, has been neglected and looted by the powerful, leading to their catastrophic failure.
Even when the looming disaster was apparent, the authorities in eastern Libya, under the control of warlord Khalifa Haftar, failed in their basic duties. As Anas el Gomati from the Sadeq Institute points out, unlike the earthquake in Morocco, officials had prior knowledge of Storm Daniel’s impact and sufficient time to plan evacuations. Despite some orders to evacuate, others were instructed to stay at home, resulting in further loss of life.
In the aftermath, rescue and relief efforts are hindered not only by the destruction of essential infrastructure but also by political obstacles. The internationally recognized government in Tripoli and Haftar’s rival government are accused of prioritizing their own interests rather than the welfare of the affected population. Meanwhile, influential figures in civil society, who could organize relief efforts, are languishing in prison.
Furthermore, there is widespread dissatisfaction with the slow response from other governments to this catastrophic event. Foreign powers have been involved in Libya due to its vast fossil fuel reserves and regional security concerns. The European Union, for instance, has provided substantial funds to curb migration while turning a blind eye to the appalling human rights abuses by the Libyan coast guard. The international community, especially France, which has supported Haftar, must now step up and provide genuine support to the Libyan people.
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