The images of the floods that hit Derna, Libya, in September 2023 remain etched in people’s minds. The devastated streets, the collapsed buildings, the bridges swept away by the waters… The city has been completely transformed into a field of ruins.
But beyond the material destruction, it is the human toll that is most difficult to accept. The city’s mayor estimated that the number of people killed in the floods could reach up to 20,000, or a fifth of Derna’s population before the disaster. Alarming figures which illustrate the scale of the tragedy.
The political disorganization that Libya has suffered for years has been singled out as one of the factors which contributed to this catastrophe. Local and international authorities are mobilized to help survivors and disaster victims. The European Commission announced the sending of emergency aid from Germany, Romania and Finland.
The United Nations also pledged $10 million to support relief and humanitarian aid operations. The European Union has released an envelope of 500,000 euros and the United Kingdom announced the sending of aid of 1.16 million euros to meet the most urgent needs of the Libyans.
On the ground, humanitarian workers face many challenges. Obstructed or destroyed roads make access to disaster areas difficult, compromising the rapid deployment of relief supplies. In addition, the risk of unexploded ordnance in the region further complicates operations.
Despite these difficulties, international mobilization is intensifying. Military transport planes from the Middle East and Europe landed in Derna, bringing rescue workers, medical equipment and even a field hospital. Egypt announced it was setting up camps to shelter survivors, while Turkey sent additional support by boat, including field hospitals.
Germany, Romania, Finland, Italy, Algeria, Qatar, Tunisia, the United Arab Emirates, Jordan and many other countries also provided assistance. Help even left the occupied West Bank, showing international solidarity in the face of this catastrophe.
The road to reconstruction will be long and difficult for the residents of Derna. But international aid and global solidarity offer a ray of hope in these dark times. Hopefully lessons will be learned from this tragedy to prevent such events in the future.