After devastating floods caused by Storm Daniel, at least 30,000 people have been displaced in Derna, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said on Wednesday. Floods have left thousands dead and missing in this Libyan coastal town, according to authorities. Given the difficult access to this town of 100,000 inhabitants, in eastern Libya, uncertainties still remain over the exact number of victims of the disaster.
Cut roads, landslides and floods prevented relief from quickly reaching the population who had to manage by rudimentary means to recover bodies buried by the dozens in mass graves, according to images posted on social networks . The IOM reported more than 30,000 displaced in Derna as well as 3,000 in Al-Bayda and more than 2,000 in Benghazi, other towns further west. The IOM explained that Derna was now only accessible via two entrances to the south (out of the usual seven). Widespread power outages and telecommunications network disruptions are limiting communications, she said.
While the country has been plunged into chaos since the death of dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, divided between East and West, the authorities of the rival camps speak of “thousands” of deaths. Osama Ali, spokesperson for the Libyan Rescue and Emergency Service under the internationally recognized government in Tripoli, told AFP on Tuesday that the floods had left “more than 2,300 dead” and around 7,000 injured in Derna. , while more than 5,000 people are missing.
An official from the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) reported an “enormous” number of deaths which could number in the thousands, with 10,000 missing. Since the great earthquake which shook the town of Al-Marj (east) in 1963, it is the worst natural disaster experienced by Cyrenaica, the eastern province of Libya.
On Sunday afternoon, Storm Daniel reached the eastern coast of Libya, hitting the metropolis of Benghazi before heading east towards cities in Jabal al-Akhdar (northeast), such as Shahat (Cyrene). , al-Marj, al-Bayda and Soussa (Apollonia) but especially Derna, the most devastated city.
During the night from Sunday to Monday, the two dams on Wadi Derna, which hold back the waters of the wadi which crosses the city, failed. Witnesses told Libyan media that they heard a “huge explosion” before powerful torrents reached the city, overflowing the banks, washing away bridges and entire neighborhoods with their inhabitants towards the Mediterranean.
Bodies began to be washed up by the sea on Tuesday, which changed color, becoming brown like mud. Images published Tuesday by Libyan media show a military helicopter recovering bodies from the beach littered with debris and pieces of iron.
Libya: Some of the 10,000 missing after the floods in Derna could be at sea, they were swept out to sea during the floods. The sea throws their bodies back onto the beaches. pic.twitter.com/DtQ6D9AI6J
In the country and abroad, there is strong mobilization to help the victims, even if help is still arriving in trickles. Rescue teams sent by Turkey and the United Arab Emirates have arrived in eastern Libya, according to authorities. Jordan has sent a planeload of humanitarian aid, the Jordanian Hashemite Charity Organization said Wednesday. The plane contains tents, blankets, mattresses and food packages, she said.
The Italian Ministry of Defense also announced on Wednesday the departure of a ship and two military transport planes to transport experts and essential logistical equipment. Algeria and Egypt indicated on Tuesday that they had also sent aid. France announced the deployment of a field hospital to help the affected populations, while the United States decided to send “emergency funds to relief organizations” and plans coordination with the Libyan authorities and the UN to provide additional support.
For its part, the European Commission announced the sending of aid from Germany, Romania and Finland to the town of Derna, as part of the EU civil protection mechanism, which has been activated. “Help from Germany, Romania and Finland is on the way. The mobilization of the (European) Commission continues,” tweeted a spokesperson for the European executive, Balazs Ujvari.
