The International Organisation for Migration (IOM) has reported that the recent Libya floods, which resulted in thousands of casualties in the city of Derna, have also led to the displacement of more than 43,000 people. This grim revelation comes in the wake of a tsunami-sized flash flood that breached two ageing river dams upstream from Derna. The catastrophe unfolded after the coastal region was battered by Mediterranean Storm Daniel on September 10, causing extensive devastation.
This catastrophic event has left entire neighborhoods in ruins, with countless individuals swept into the sea. While the official death toll currently stands at over 3,300, international aid groups estimate that the final count could be significantly higher, with some suggesting up to 10,000 people may be missing.
The IOM’s statement sheds light on the staggering human displacement caused by the floods in northeastern Libya. According to the IOM, “an estimated 43,059 individuals have been displaced by the floods in northeastern Libya.” Moreover, a severe shortage of water supply has reportedly driven many of the displaced individuals out of Derna, compelling them to seek refuge in other areas.
The pressing needs in the aftermath of this catastrophe encompass essentials such as food, drinking water, and critical mental health and psychosocial support. The IOM underscores the urgency of addressing these requirements to aid those affected by the disaster.
Amidst the crisis, mobile and internet services, which were disrupted for two days following protests, have been restored. Angry residents had attributed the high death toll to authorities, leading to protests and suspicions of a deliberate “blackout.” Tripoli-based Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah announced the restoration of communications services in the east on Thursday.
Libya, scarred by years of conflict and political divisions, remains divided between Prime Minister Dbeibah’s UN-backed government in the west and another government in the disaster-stricken east, supported by military leader Khalifa Haftar.
The dams overwhelmed by the torrential rains on September 10 had reportedly developed cracks dating as far back as the 1990s, as Libya’s top prosecutor disclosed. Residents have accused authorities of negligence, exacerbating the scale of the disaster.
Much of Libya’s infrastructure has deteriorated amidst the chaos that followed the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that led to the ousting and death of dictator Moamer Kadhafi.
Derna, a former stronghold of radical Islamists and a historical protest center, was captured by Haftar’s forces in 2018. Demonstrators, in their recent protests, voiced their grievances against the eastern Libyan parliament and its leader Aguilah Saleh.
As investigations into the cause of the tragedy continue, Libya’s prosecutor general Al-Seddik al-Sour has pledged “rapid results.” He also noted that individuals suspected of corruption or negligence have already been identified, although he did not specify their names.
In the aftermath of the flood disaster, survivors in Derna are confronted with new threats. The United Nations has raised concerns about the potential outbreak of diseases, which could constitute “a second devastating crisis” in the flood-affected regions. Local officials, aid agencies, and the World Health Organization are apprehensive about the risk of disease outbreaks, particularly due to contaminated water sources and inadequate sanitation facilities. Libya’s disease control center has issued warnings about the pollution of mains water in the disaster zone, advising residents against its usage.