Floods that recently hit the town of Derna in Libya caused widespread damage and human tragedy. While the authorities are trying to draw up a precise assessment of the situation, the figures put forward by different sources remain uncertain.
According to a United Nations (UN) report, citing the Libyan Red Crescent, at least 11,300 people have lost their lives in the floods in Derna, with more than 10,100 people missing. However, these figures were disputed by the Red Crescent spokesperson, who denied the reports and stressed that this added to the confusion and distress of the families of the missing.
Storm Daniel, which hit Derna, caused two dams to break, causing devastating flooding along the river that runs through the town. The damage is numerous, and the humanitarian situation remains critical. The city lacks clean drinking water, and there have been reports of poisoning among children who drank polluted water. Rescuers are having difficulty finding the bodies of the victims, buried under the rubble or carried by the waters towards the Mediterranean.
A complex aspect of this disaster is the chaotic political context that Libya has found itself in since the death of Muammar Gaddafi in 2011. With two rival governments and widespread instability, coordinating relief and search operations is becoming a major challenge. The Libyan authorities have started the process of identifying the bodies and taking a census, but the situation remains complex.
Faced with this disaster, the international community showed its solidarity by sending rescue and assistance teams to Benghazi airport. These teams are striving to assist the Libyan authorities in rescue and reconstruction operations.
It is important to emphasize that this tragedy highlights the vulnerability of coastal areas to climate change and extreme weather conditions. It is necessary to strengthen risk prevention measures and adopt appropriate policies to deal with such situations in the future.
In conclusion, the floods in Derna in Libya caused a real human tragedy, with the results still uncertain. The situation remains critical, with logistical and political challenges to overcome. It is essential that the international community continues to support relief and reconstruction efforts and develop prevention strategies to protect vulnerable communities from natural disasters.