Calay News
Eastern Libya has been devastated by floods caused by Storm Daniel, resulting in a tragedy with thousands dead and an unknown number of people missing.
What happened?
The Mediterranean storm reached the eastern coast of Libya on Sunday night, affecting cities such as Benghazi and moving eastward, including historical sites such as Cyrene and Susa, but hit Derna with particular intensity.
Heavy rain led to the collapse of two dams on the Wadi Derna River on Sunday night, unleashing a powerful torrent that swept away entire neighborhoods and destroyed bridges before reaching the sea.
What is the Victim Balance?
Authorities in control of eastern Libya, a divided nation with two rival governments, reported 3,800 confirmed deaths on Thursday, although the actual number is feared to be significantly higher.
The eastern region of the country, where the tragedy occurred, does not have international recognition. A senior official at the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) reported an “enormous” death toll that could reach several thousand, with some 10,000 people missing.
The International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that at least 38,640 people have been displaced in the most affected areas of northeastern Libya, including about 30,000 in Derna, 3,000 in Al Baida and 2,195 in Benghazi. According to this UN agency, a total of 884,000 people have been directly affected by this catastrophe.
Why were so many victims registered in Derna?
Experts explain that the combination of deteriorated infrastructure, buildings that fail to comply with urban regulations in force in the last decade and the lack of preparation for a disaster of such magnitude led Derna to become a disaster zone.
Most of the deaths could have been avoided, according to Petteri Taalas, Director of the UN World Meteorological Organization (WMO), who noted that “warnings could have been issued and emergency management forces could have carried out evacuations.”
The UN official highlighted that years of conflict in Libya have largely destroyed the weather observation network.
Libya, an oil-rich country, fell into chaos and war after the popular uprising that toppled dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. The country currently has two governments competing for power: one recognized by the UN in Tripoli, to the west, and another in the eastern area, where the tragedy occurred.
Arrival of Help
Aid convoys from Tripolitania, in the west of the country, began arriving in Derna on Monday morning. The internationally recognized government, led by Abdelhamid Dbeibah, announced the dispatch of medical planes, a helicopter, 87 doctors, rescue teams and search dogs.
Martin Griffiths, Director of the UN Humanitarian Coordination Office (OCHA), announced on Wednesday the release of $10 million from an emergency fund, noting that there is a “robust team” on the ground to support and fund the international response.
Griffiths said Friday that the “extent” of the tragedy is still unknown.
The World Food Program (WFP) reported that it has begun providing assistance to more than 5,000 families displaced by the floods and warned that thousands of people are “without food or shelter.”
The UN, the United States and several countries in the Middle East and North Africa also promised to send help, with foreign rescue teams already deployed in search of survivors.
