Libya’s attorney general has issued arrest warrants for four officials in connection with the deadly floods that devastated the city of Derna on September 10. These floods, caused by Storm Daniel, resulted in the loss of 3,893 lives and left thousands of people missing. The arrests were made due to “poor management of the administrative and financial missions incumbent on them.”
In addition to the four officials, eight other officials, including the former mayor of Derna, have already been in custody since September 25 for their alleged participation in the mismanagement of the crisis. Meanwhile, authorities in eastern Libya have announced plans to compensate those affected by the floods in the coming days. Residents whose homes were completely destroyed will receive 100,000 Libyan dinars (approximately $20,500), while those whose homes were partially damaged will receive 50,000 dinars. Additionally, those who lost furniture and appliances due to the floods will receive 20,000 dinars.
However, these announcements are accompanied by fears about possible cases of corruption and mismanagement of funds allocated for reconstruction. The UN envoy to Libya, Abdulaye Bathily, has called for strict control of these funds to prevent embezzlement. Libya, which has been in chaos since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, currently has two rival administrations: one in Tripoli (west) recognized by the UN and another in the east, led by Parliament and affiliated with the powerful marshal Khalifa Haftar. The political and social situation in the country remains complex, posing significant challenges for crisis management and reconstruction after natural disasters.