DERNA: The United Nations issued a grave warning on Monday, stating that disease outbreaks could pose “a second devastating crisis” to Libya just one week after a catastrophic flash flood inundated the coastal city of Derna, claiming thousands of lives.
Local authorities, humanitarian organizations, and the World Health Organization (WHO) have expressed deep concerns regarding the heightened risk of disease outbreaks, primarily stemming from contaminated water sources and inadequate sanitation conditions, according to the United Nations.
The flash flood, which has tragically resulted in the deaths of nearly 11,300 people, also left thousands missing. This disaster was caused by Hurricane-strength Storm Daniel on September 10.
The affected population, numbering in the tens of thousands, is now facing dire conditions marked by homelessness, urgent needs for clean water, food, and essential supplies, all while facing an escalating risk of diseases such as cholera, diarrhea, dehydration, and malnutrition. UN agencies have raised alarm bells about the deteriorating situation.
In response to the crisis, Libya’s disease control center has imposed a ban on citizens in the disaster-stricken area from consuming local tap water, citing contamination concerns.
Rescue teams continue their grim search for bodies amidst the debris-laden landscape of Derna, marked by mud-covered remnants of buildings, crushed vehicles, and uprooted trees.
The floodwaters submerged an approximately six-square-kilometer (2.3-square-mile) area within Derna, causing extensive damage, including the complete destruction of 891 out of 1,500 affected buildings, according to a preliminary report issued by the Tripoli government. This assessment is based on satellite imagery.
Abdul Wahab al-Masouri, a grieving resident of Derna, expressed his profound sorrow and disappointment about the city’s transformation, stating, “We grew up here, we were raised here… But we’ve come to hate this place, we’ve come to hate what it has become.”
Derna, he lamented, now evokes a sense of desolation, with buildings in ruins, neighborhoods devoid of life, and a landscape reminiscent of a bygone era. Many residents are currently residing in caves, he added.
Humanitarian Aid to Libya
As bulldozers work tirelessly to clear roads and debris-caked mud, the air is tainted with a foul odor. Meanwhile, survivors gather in prayer, mourning the loss of children and grandchildren who fell victim to the devastating flooding.
In the midst of this chaos, the actual death toll remains uncertain, with an undisclosed number of individuals swept into the sea during the disaster. According to Othman Abdeljalil, the health minister of Libya, confirmed death toll in Derna stands at 3,283 individuals.
However, Libyan officials and humanitarian organizations have cautioned that the final tally could be significantly higher, given the large number of individuals still unaccounted for.
Several countries, including Egypt, France, Greece, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates, have dispatched emergency response teams and humanitarian aid to assist in the disaster relief efforts.
Tragically, five members of a Greek rescue team lost their lives in a collision with a car carrying a Libyan family on the road from Benghazi to Derna on Sunday, resulting in the deaths of three members of the family as well.
The United Nations, which has initiated an emergency appeal for more than $71 million, announced that nine of its agencies are actively delivering aid and support to survivors and working to prevent the spread of diseases.
On Monday, the European Union announced the release of 5.2 million euros (approximately $5.5 million) in humanitarian funding for Libya, bringing the EU’s total aid contributions to over 5.7 million euros.
