BEIRUT: In recent years, numerous Syrians from diverse professions and backgrounds sought refuge and opportunities in the Libyan city of Derna, fleeing the distress of their war-stricken homeland.
However, a devastating turn of events occurred when the Mediterranean storm Daniel struck, causing catastrophic flooding that tore through the coastal city on a fateful Sunday night, wreaking havoc and sweeping entire neighbourhoods out to sea. The aftermath has left families and communities in anguish, with many fearing for the lives of their loved ones.
The death toll from this calamity has surpassed a staggering 11,000, with over 10,000 individuals still unaccounted for. Despite five days of relentless search efforts, rescue teams continue to sift through mud and hollowed-out buildings in Derna, desperately searching for any signs of life.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in Britain, 42 Syrians have been confirmed dead in Libya, but the actual toll might be much higher, possibly reaching up to 150. The victims encompass both long-term Syrian residents in Libya and migrants passing through Libya on their arduous journey to Europe, often aboard unsafe boats arranged by smugglers for perilous voyages across the Mediterranean Sea.
Two years ago, Ammar Kanaan, a 19-year-old from Syria’s Daraa province, left for Libya, aiming to work and save money to fulfil a hefty fee demanded by Syrian authorities to avoid compulsory military service. His last communication with his family was on that ill-fated Sunday afternoon, just before the storm hit. His fate remains uncertain, and his family clings to hope, anxiously awaiting any news.
As the storm-ravaged Derna, residents reported hearing deafening explosions as dams surrounding the city gave way, unleashing torrents of water down Wadi Derna, a river flowing from the mountains into the heart of the city and eventually into the sea.
Syrians like Zeid Marabeh sought a better life in Libya, lured by the prospects of higher wages and a chance to escape the grim reality of their homeland. Marabeh, a carpenter, vividly recalls the horrifying moment the dams collapsed, triggering a catastrophic surge of water that decimated everything in its path. He watched in horror as his own family’s residence disappeared into the deluge.
In the midst of this tragedy, families in Syria grapple with the loss of their loved ones. The Qalaaji family mourns the loss of eight members, while others like Hani Turkomani, a dentist seeking a brighter future, remain missing.
The catastrophe in Derna serves as a grim reminder of the profound struggles endured by those fleeing conflict, seeking solace and a chance for a better life. The impact of this devastating storm echoes not only in the Libyan city but reverberates through the hearts of Syrians across the region, amplifying the urgent need for support, solidarity, and meaningful action to mitigate the suffering and loss experienced by countless families.
![NEW YORK: Pakistan's former Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, leading Pakistan’s high-level parliamentary delegation, on Tuesday warned that India's aggressive actions pose a serious threat to peace in South Asia and urged the international community to take note of India's aggressive conduct. Bilawal was addressing a press conference at the United Nations headquarters in New York on recent regional developments after the military conflict between India and Pakistan. The Pakistani delegation is in New York to present Pakistan’s stance on the military escalation with India and to challenge New Delhi’s narrative at the global level. The visit is part of Pakistan’s sustained diplomatic outreach to brief key UN stakeholders on the alarming regional situation. The Pakistani delegation is also scheduled to arrive in Washington today, where it plans to engage with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, other senior officials, lawmakers, and think tanks till June 6. The team will also visit London and Brussels. Speaking at the press conference, Bilawal said that he wanted to use the opportunity to share Pakistan’s perspective on the recent military conflict with India in the wake of the Pahalgam attack and the way forward. Bilawal said that the “illegal strikes” launched by India as part of its ‘Operation Sindoor’ were “in violation of the UN Charter, international law”. He said the attacks had targeted civilian infrastructure, places of worship, energy infrastructure and innocent women and children. He said India had used the April 22 terrorist attack in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir’s (IIOJK) Pahalgam as a pretext to launch the attack inside Pakistan. Following the Pahalgam incident, Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif offered publicly to India that Pakistan was ready to be part of any impartial international investigation into this attack. “We did so because we were confident, our hands were clean and we had nothing to do with this terrorist attack. “We expressed our sympathy with the victims of terrorism and Pakistan has consistently and unequivocally condemned terrorism in all its forms and manifestations,” he said, adding that PM Sharif had immediately expressed Pakistan’s willingness to India and the global community to be part of any impartial international investigation. “Indian government refused Pakistan's offer and chose instead to conduct their illegal strikes. Pakistan only then acted in self-defence, we never initiated any violence against India,” Bilawal said. Bilawal emphasised that Pakistan never initiated hostilities against India but responded to Indian aggression by downing six Indian fighter jets. "The Pakistani military had responded with precision the night of the first Indian attack and only targeted and downed six planes because we believed those were the ones to release their load on Pakistan”. He stated that US President Donald Trump and Secretary of State Marco Rubio played a vital role in achieving a ceasefire during heightened tensions between the nuclear-armed South Asian neighbours. “We’ve seen during the course of this conflict how quickly the escalation ladder between our two countries rose and the concern is that the next time there is such an incident, there may not be time for the international community to intervene before things get a lot worse. That is why it is absolutely important for Pakistan and the international community to continue to pursue dialogue and diplomacy as the only viable path to peace.” He said Pakistan’s position was to hold a “comprehensive dialogue” with India that would include the issue of terrorism as well. The head of the Pakistani delegation said that no civilized nation can support the use of water as a weapon and urged the international community to play its part, questioning, "What would be the global reaction if someone’s lifeline was cut off?" He stressed that Pakistan has paid a heavy price in the fight against terrorism and has suffered the most. “The single largest number of terrorist attacks that take place in any one country is Pakistan. The single largest number of victims of terrorism is Pakistan. I myself have suffered at the hands of terrorists. My mother [Benazir Bhutto] was assassinated by the terrorists.” Bilawal also criticised India for targeting water reservoirs and civilian areas, including mosques, during its attacks. Calling negotiations the only path to peace, Bilawal reiterated that the unresolved Kashmir dispute remains the root cause of regional instability. He urged the global community to take notice of India’s aggressive conduct.](https://wenewsenglish.com/storage/2025/06/Bilawal-Bhutto-Zardari-300x180.jpg)
