The catastrophic storm Daniel which hit Libya on the night of September 10-11 left behind a real disaster. With nearly 4,300 confirmed human losses and nearly 10,000 people still missing, the consequences of this storm are devastating. But beyond these human losses, it is also agriculture and livestock which have suffered heavy losses in the disaster area of Djabal al Akhdar.
Indeed, the floods swept away thousands of sheep and poultry as well as tonnes of seeds, causing considerable damage to the livestock sector. According to estimates by local officials, this region has lost 40% of its livestock production, which could jeopardize the country’s food security. The consequences of these losses are already being felt in food prices, which are increasing significantly.
In the Hadaek district of Benghazi, middle-class residents are beginning to suffer from these rising prices. A man in his fifties testifies to this reality: “Before the disaster, a kilo of meat from livestock was 58 dinars. It sells today for 65 dinars. There is a big difference in price. C “It’s the same for eggs and many other products. With our salaries, we will no longer be able to make ends meet.”
If the disaster is partly responsible for this rise in prices, some traders are also taking advantage of it to enrich themselves. As Ahmed, owner of a food store, points out, “it is the traders who are responsible, they increase prices. The citizen is exploited, he sometimes only has 20 dinars to meet all the needs of his family .”
Faced with this situation, the municipal police intervened to control prices and call traders to order. Measures are taken to limit abuse and preserve citizens’ purchasing power. For example, the maximum price of 30 eggs has been set at 16 dinars, and those who do not respect this limit risk losing their sales license.
The situation in Libya following Storm Daniel is critical, both from a human and economic point of view. It is crucial to put in place emergency aid and reconstruction measures to support residents and revive the economy of the affected region. Solidarity and collective effort will be essential to overcome this ordeal and allow Libya to recover.