Seven weeks have passed since the devastating passage of Storm Daniel in Derna, Libya. The consequences of this natural disaster were tragic, with a death toll of more than 4,000 and nearly 10,000 people missing. Today, the city is preparing to begin its reconstruction during a conference to be held on April 13 and 14.
Initially envisaged as a large-scale international event, the Derna reconstruction conference had to scale back its ambitions. Despite the efforts of the eastern Libyan government to make it a symbolic event, some obstacles stood in their way.
First, the UN-recognized Benghazi Parliament voted to expel the American, British, French, German and Italian ambassadors because of their support for Israel. Although this vote was mainly symbolic, it resulted in these countries not being expected to send ministers to the conference. This is a hard blow for the Benghazi government, which hoped to benefit from international recognition through this conference.
Additionally, large companies will not be present at the event, mainly due to organizational issues. A few days before the opening of the conference, the precise program is still not known. For fear of sending their executives to a country considered dangerous, multinationals prefer to wait and observe the situation.
Despite these obstacles, the conference remains a key moment for the reconstruction of Derna. The white tent that was set up near the port, where the damage was most significant, symbolizes the hope of seeing the city recover. The authorities of eastern Libya want to show their hosts that despite the destruction, part of the city is ready to welcome reconstruction.
It is essential that this conference makes it possible to mobilize the necessary resources for the reconstruction of Derna. The population needs help and support to rebuild after this tragedy. Let us hope that despite the obstacles, this event is an important step towards the reconstruction of the city and the renewal of hope for its inhabitants.
For more information on this news, you can consult the following articles:
– “Derna after the storm: between hope and challenges” – Link
– “The Benghazi government is trying to mobilize the international community for the reconstruction of Derna” – Link
– “The expulsion of foreign ambassadors: an obstacle for the Derna reconstruction conference” – Link
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