One week following the cataclysmic flash flood that wreaked havoc in the Libyan coastal city of Derna, resulting in the tragic loss of thousands of lives, the global humanitarian response has gathered momentum to assist the grieving survivors.
Teams engaged in search-and-rescue operations, equipped with face masks and protective attire, persistently scoured the somber landscape, saturated with mud, where buildings lay in ruins, cars were crushed, and trees uprooted, in their quest to locate any survivors who might still be entangled in the debris.
Derna, now home to 30,000 displaced residents, finds itself in the throes of a dire crisis, grappling with an urgent need for clean water, sustenance, shelter, and fundamental provisions. United Nations agencies have sounded the alarm, warning of an escalating risk of cholera, diarrhea, dehydration, and malnutrition among the traumatized populace.
Mohammad al-Dawali, a resident of the beleaguered city, poignantly stated, “In this city, every single family has been affected.”
Seir Mohammed Seir, a member of the security forces, shared the harrowing tale of a three-month-old infant who miraculously survived the catastrophe, having lost her entire family to its ferocity.
Numerous nations, including France, Iran, Malta, Russia, Tunisia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates, have mobilized emergency response teams and dispatched relief supplies to the stricken region. Additional assistance is en route from various European and Arab countries.
Regrettably, the aid mission faces formidable challenges due to Libya’s political fragmentation, a consequence of the turmoil that ensued following the 2011 Nato-backed uprising leading to the demise of long-standing dictator Moamer Qadhafi. The nation remains divided between two rival governments: one endorsed by the United Nations in Tripoli, and another centered in the disaster-afflicted eastern region.
Amidst the chaos, the actual death toll remains uncertain, with countless individuals feared to have been swept into the unforgiving sea.
The health minister of the eastern administration, Othman Abdeljalil, has reported a confirmed death toll of 3,252 in Derna, where streets and squares have been marked by the presence of shrouded bodies. However, the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has issued a sobering warning, suggesting that the eventual death toll in Derna alone could escalate to a staggering 11,300, accompanied by an additional 10,100 individuals still unaccounted for.
Nevertheless, the Libyan Red Crescent, citing figures from the UN agency, has disputed the death toll of over 10,000, urging media outlets to exercise caution and accuracy.
The massive deluge occurred on September 10, as Libya was battered by the ferocious Mediterranean Storm Daniel, packing hurricane-strength force, which had previously unleashed deadly floods in Greece, Turkey, and Bulgaria.
The catastrophic event unfolded when the surging waters breached two upstream river dams in Derna, resulting in a late-night tidal wave that engulfed the city of 100,000, obliterating entire residential neighborhoods into the Mediterranean.
Experts from the UN have attributed the staggering loss of life to climatic conditions exacerbated by an unusually scorching summer and the repercussions of Libya’s protracted conflict, which has eroded its infrastructure, early warning systems, and emergency response capabilities.
Profound questions have arisen regarding whether the disaster could have been averted, given that reports of dam cracks date back to 1998.
A week later, the grim task of locating bodies continues, with many washing ashore along the Mediterranean coastline, accompanied by vast quantities of debris. A rescue team from Malta’s Civil Protection Department described encountering a beach strewn with bodies, estimating their number to be around 400.
Additionally, a Libyan rescue team operating an inflatable boat reported observing “perhaps 600 bodies” adrift at sea near the Om-al-Briket region, situated approximately 20 kilometers east of Derna, as documented in a video shared on social media.
The United Nations has launched an urgent appeal for aid, seeking more than $71 million in assistance. The relief efforts include the delivery of water, food, tents, blankets, hygiene kits, medications, emergency surgical supplies, as well as heavy machinery to facilitate debris clearance and an increased supply of body bags.
The scale of devastation in Derna and its environs has spurred displays of solidarity across a divided Libya, as volunteers in Tripoli have rallied to collect aid for the flood victims.
Moreover, the International Committee of the Red Cross has raised concerns about another peril lurking in the flood-affected areas: the presence of unexploded landmines and ordnance remnants from the previous conflict, potentially washed into regions previously free of such hazards.
By AFP
