Libya: Floods Cause More than 5.200 Deaths.

Libya, a nation marked by decades of political instability and armed conflicts, following the political division that has plagued the country since the assassination of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, is now facing a catastrophe of unimaginable proportions due to the floods that have devastated the country.

The images of destruction, entire submerged cities and isolated communities reveal the devastating impact of Storm Daniel, which turned into a Mediterranean tropical cyclone. With a rising number of dead (5.200) and missing (10.000), Libya faces monumental challenges in finding survivors and providing assistance to victims.

The planet seems to be taking revenge for the wounds that humanity has inflicted on it. This year alone, more natural disasters have occurred than in the last decade. The aftermath of the earthquake in Morocco is not yet over and now we are facing floods in Libya, with the death toll increasing with each passing day.

More than 5.200 dead, so far...

Libya, a North African nation, is facing a tragedy of catastrophic proportions due to devastating floods triggered by Storm Daniel.

To date, the latest official report, according to the country's Interior Minister, reports that more than 5.200 people have lost their lives due to the floods. However, it is important to note that this tragic number is constantly changing, as rescue and rescue operations continue, not to mention that the tragedy has worsened, with the simultaneous collapse of two dams.

The floods, described as “catastrophic” by local authorities, caused the destruction of entire neighborhoods, isolating communities and making roads impassable. In addition to the confirmed deaths, the Red Cross warns that at least 10.000 people are missing, a number that raises great concern, as the chances of survival decrease as time passes.

The most seriously affected city is Derna, located in eastern Libya, where more than 2.000 deaths have already been reported. This coastal city was devastatingly hit by floods and most of the fatalities are concentrated in this area.

The images circulating on social media show an apocalyptic landscape, with flooded streets, destroyed buildings and bodies awaiting identification and burial in public squares. It is a panorama reminiscent of the destruction caused by natural disasters in other parts of the world.

Access to Derna and other affected cities is extremely compromised due to damage to infrastructure, including roads and bridges destroyed by the floods. This has made it difficult for rescue teams to work and deliver much-needed humanitarian aid to isolated communities.

Local authorities have made desperate appeals for international help, as the capacity of the Libyan government, divided in two, is nil and local organizations are overwhelmed by the magnitude of the tragedy.

Libya in a State of Emergency

In addition to the devastation caused by the floods, Libya faces this catastrophe in a context of political division and internal conflicts. The country is divided between two rival administrations, each controlling different parts of the territory. One administration is based in eastern Libya, in the city of Tobruk, while the other, internationally recognized, operates from the capital, Tripoli, in the west.

This political division has been a constant source of conflict and instability in the country since the assassination of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, during the so-called “Arab Spring”. This pseudo popular uprising, manipulated by forces outside the country, resulted in the fall of the Gaddafi regime, but also plunged Libya into a decade of chaos.

With different armed groups, militias and foreign powers with interests on the ground and trying to gain influence and control in the country. Political instability and the lack of a cohesive central government have hampered Libya's ability to respond effectively to natural disasters and humanitarian crises.

The current tragedy of this flood further exposes the fragility of Libyan infrastructure, which was already in a state of deterioration due to years of conflict. Roads, bridges and telecommunications networks were affected, making it even more difficult for anyone to coordinate rescue operations and humanitarian assistance.

The chairman of Libya's Presidential Council, Muhammad Manfi, declared several provinces in the northeastern region of Cyrenaica a “disaster zone” and called on the international community to provide humanitarian aid.

Al Manfi stated that he has already contacted countries such as Spain and Italy to coordinate his support and the oil companies Total (France) and Eni (Italy) committed to providing three planes at the disposal of the Benghazi Government on Tuesday. Tunisia, Egypt, Algeria and Qatar offered help.

International Response

In the midst of this humanitarian crisis, the international community has mobilized to offer help to Libya. Countries such as Spain, Italy, Canada, the United States and Turkey expressed their solidarity and willingness to send assistance to flood victims. The European Union also expressed its readiness to help, recognizing the seriousness of the situation.

A International Organization for Migration (IOM) reported that more than 2.000 people in Benghazi were affected by the rains and are currently sheltering in schools in the city. The floods also forced the evacuation of patients from Al Baida Medical Center.

The IOM highlighted significant damage to infrastructure, including roads and telecommunications networks, as well as the displacement of hundreds of families.

The High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, lamented the damage caused by Cyclone Daniel and torrential rains in Libya, saying that the EU is ready to help the country.

Turkey sent planes with personnel to assist in rescue efforts, while the United Arab Emirates also pledged to do the same. The situation is on high alert, and authorities are looking for all possible ways to provide assistance to affected communities.

Pope Francis Prays for Libya

Pope Francis received with sadness the news of the violent floods caused by torrential rains in Libya. The message, signed by the Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, was sent to the apostolic nuncio in Libya, Dom Savio Hon Tai-Fai, and published this Tuesday, 12. The cardinal expresses the Pope's pain over the deaths and destruction caused in the country.

“He [the Pope] assures us of his prayers for the souls of those who have died and those who mourn their losses.”

“His Holiness also expresses spiritual closeness to the injured, to those who fear for their missing loved ones and to the emergency teams providing rescue and assistance.”

Climate changes

Storm Daniel, which turned into a Mediterranean tropical cyclone, is described by experts as a “extreme in terms of water volume“. Climate change has played a significant role in increasing the intensity of storms like this.

After losing intensity, the storm gained strength again upon reaching Libya, with winds reaching 180 km/hour and rainfall between 50 and 250 mm, according to the Arab Regional Meteorological Center. This caused flooding across a vast area stretching from Benghazi to El Beida.

According to the Libyan National Meteorological Center, the storm is expected to advance increasingly eastward, around the Jaghbub areas, and reach regions bordering Egypt.

We must not forget that global warming is directly related to the increase in seawater temperatures, which contributes to the formation of more powerful cyclones and storms.

Storm Daniel not only affected Libya, it also caused destruction in other Mediterranean countries, including Greece, Turkey and Bulgaria, resulting in at least 27 deaths in these regions. This raises concerns about the growing threat of tropical cyclones in the Mediterranean due to climate change.

Rescue Efforts in Libya

Rescue and humanitarian assistance efforts are in full swing in eastern Libya. The Libyan government announced the mobilization of resources to help populations affected by the floods. This includes sending 50 ambulances and a team of 75 doctors and nurses to Derna, along with medical supplies and materials intended to reinforce hospitals in the affected rural areas.

Search and rescue operations continue in full force, with emergency teams working tirelessly to locate survivors and recover the bodies of victims. However, harsh conditions in the affected areas, including a lack of infrastructure and limited access, make this task extremely difficult.

The Red Crescent announced the deaths of three of its members during rescue operations in Derna. The lack of resources and difficult access to these mountainous areas forced rescue teams and citizens to remove victims from the rubble with household items and bury them in mass graves in the Martouba cemetery, around twenty kilometers away.

Call for Solidarity

The high representative of the European Union, Josep Borrell, highlighted the importance of international solidarity at this critical moment. He highlighted that the EU is closely monitoring the situation and is ready to assist Libya in its disaster response operations.

Libya has already received prompt support from Turkey, which sent emergency teams to assist in rescue operations. The United Arab Emirates has also committed to offering help and other countries have also done so.

An air bridge was also created between the capital, Tripoli, and the eastern region to transport the most critically injured and the national airline Afriqiya Airways offered free flights for the movement of medical personnel and humanitarian agents.

The Prime Minister of the Government of National Unity (GUN), Abdulhamid Debiba, based in Tripoli, promised that the State will compensate all those affected by the floods and decreed three days of mourning for the victims in addition to ordering that flags across the country be raised at half shaft.

For its part, the parallel Executive, supported by Parliament and based in Benghazi, declared this Sunday and Monday a holiday in all public institutions and schools – with the exception of security forces, doctors and essential professionals – in the Cyrenaica region that it controls. its administration.

The United Nations Mission in Libya (Unsmil) said in a statement that it is closely monitoring the emergency situation and is ready to provide urgent humanitarian assistance to complement national and local efforts.

Conclusion

The floods in Libya represent one of the region's greatest humanitarian tragedies and expose the country's vulnerabilities to natural disasters, in part due to its political division and decades of conflict. With more than 5.200 dead and thousands missing, the magnitude of the devastation is overwhelming.

At this time of crisis, international solidarity plays a crucial role in responding to this tragedy. The international community, despite being overwhelmed by the earthquake that occurred in Morocco, came together to offer assistance, demonstrating the importance of global cooperation in times of need.

Climate change is also in focus, as Storm Daniel is seen as an example of the impact of global warming on the intensity of storms in the Mediterranean. This catastrophe serves as a somber note of the need for global action to combat climate change and to prepare for increasingly frequent and intense natural disasters.

In this time of mourning and despair, hope lies in solidarity and humanitarian response capacity, which can help alleviate the suffering of victims and support Libya on its long road to recovery.

What do you think of the consequences of yet another natural disaster, now in Libya? We want to know your opinion, do not hesitate to comment and if you liked the article, share and give a “like/like”.

See also:

Earthquake in Morocco: 2.862 dead so far

Earthquake in Morocco: Tragedy Shakes the Country

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