Ongoing Tragedy in Libya: On September 10, 2023, Eastern Libya was struck by the relentless force of Storm Daniel, a catastrophic event that left a profound mark on the lives of approximately 664,000 residents, including a staggering 283,000 children.
This unforgiving storm, which claimed the lives of over 6,000 individuals, unleashed its fury by rupturing dams and laying waste to numerous towns, with Al Bayda, Al Marj, and the coastal city of Derna bearing the brunt of its destructive power.
Beyond the loss of life, Storm Daniel wreaked havoc on critical infrastructure, causing extensive damage to bridges, roads, and electricity grids. The already precarious situation in Libya, marked by prolonged political turmoil and past conflicts, has cast a long shadow over essential public services, notably in the realms of healthcare, social protection, and education.
For those who were already displaced and in dire need, this calamity compounds their suffering and loss, amplifying the challenges faced by the affected communities.
The UN World Meteorological Organization has emphasized that the tragic loss of life could have been averted if early warning and emergency management systems functioned effectively in Libya, a country scarred by war.
However, hydrologist Abdul Wanis Ashour, who conducted research on the dam system protecting Derna 17 years ago, discovered several issues in the eastern port town.
Ashour revealed, "I also came across numerous reports sounding the alarm about an impending disaster in the Derna Valley basin should the dams remain neglected.
In an academic paper he published just last year, Ashour issued a stark warning that unless immediate maintenance efforts were undertaken, the city faced an imminent catastrophe.
The dire situation in Libya, both politically and socio-economically, has undeniably exacerbated the gravity of the disaster. Prior to the Arab Spring, the country was under the long-standing rule of military leader Muammar Gaddafi. However, his removal in 2011 plunged Libya into a protracted civil war, leading to international sanctions being imposed the same year.
As Knight states, The country is in disarray," marked by the existence of two competing governments, one in the west and the other in the east, coupled with a struggling economy.
Zeitoun points out that existing literature on the impact of warfare on infrastructure underscores that when sanctions are enforced on a nation, the upkeep of critical infrastructure inevitably falters, ultimately resulting in failures down the line. Libya's inadequate infrastructure was just as pivotal as the extreme weather in causing the devastation, according to Blöschl.
He suggests that the dams near Derna might not have been constructed to high standards and weren't regularly maintained, making the lack of maintenance a contributing factor to the disaster.
The issues extend beyond physical infrastructure to encompass "social infrastructure," including the management of flood defenses, as highlighted by Blöschl. There's a pressing need for comprehensive warning systems that can reach all individuals at risk, and these at-risk populations must be trained in effective response procedures.
Unfortunately, as Blöschl notes, flood drills are seldom conducted. To be adequately prepared, leaders must prioritize regular practice.
In Zeitoun's view, had the country been better prepared with readiness and response plans in place, the tragic loss of 5,000 lives could have been averted.
