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The North African country of eastern Libya was recently hit by Hurricane Daniel, triggering a severe flooding that caused great suffering to the inhabitants of the region. More than 5,300 people have been killed in the flooding in the city of Derna, according to an official in eastern Liberia, while the Red Cross warned that the death toll will rise sharply and at least 10,000 more are unaccounted for.
The floods caused two dams to burst in eastern Li, causing severe damage and washing residents of several communities into the sea. Behind this disaster is a combination of political divisions, economic instability, environmental degradation, and dilapidated infrastructure, which formed the outbreak of this disaster. A quarter of the city has been destroyed, many buildings have collapsed, and the city is littered with the bodies of victims.
A local resident, Santos Shuwaib, survived the floods, but her family went missing. Another resident, Mustafa Salem, lost 30 loved ones, most of whom tragically died in their sleep. The flooding caused severe damage to roads and made it difficult for outside aid workers to reach Derna, leading to shortages of medical supplies and clean drinking water. The city's only hospital was also overwhelmed as there were more than 700 bodies waiting to be disposed of.
For the catastrophe, some blamed it on warming, as global warming led to the expansion of Mediterranean seas, rising sea levels, and shoreline erosion, which triggered flooding. The risk is particularly high in Libya's low-lying coastal areas. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the Mediterranean Sea experiences 1 or 2 similar hurricanes per year. A warming climate leads to more precipitation, which is not absorbed by dry ground, which is also a factor in the disaster in Derna.
It is worth noting that Morocco was also hit by an earthquake before the disaster. However, researchers on Libyan policy point out that the two disasters are not comparable. Flood damage can be predicted and monitored, but the local government has not taken measures or warned residents.
At the political level, although Libya had planned to complete the appointment of candidates to various sovereign positions in the country by the end of 2022 to establish a unity government, the reality is that there are still two parallel governments in the country. Since the overthrow of Qaddafi's regime in 2011, the country has been mired in turmoil, pitting the western and eastern governments. The flood occurred in the eastern government-controlled area.
In addition, the infrastructure of the city of Derna has fallen into disrepair, and the dam has not been maintained for more than 20 years. This has also led to an exacerbation of the disaster. After the disaster, the western government provided assistance to Derna, sending a plane carrying medicines, body bags and other supplies, as well as 87 medical personnel. However, long-standing political divisions have made relief efforts challenging.
In short, the floods revealed the deep impact of political divisions, climate warming and dilapidated infrastructure in Libya. In order to avoid similar disasters from happening again, the Government and the international community need to take urgent action to strengthen infrastructure, improve meteorological monitoring capabilities, and promote political and social stability to ensure the safety and well-being of the population. This catastrophe is a wake-up call, and we can no longer ignore these potential risks.
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