Tuesday, October 10, 2023

Libya floods: The flawed response that increased Derna death toll

The devastating floods which killed thousands in eastern Libya a month ago were the result of a destructive force of nature, but BBC Arabic has uncovered evidence that mismanagement by the local authorities led to many deaths that could have been prevented.

There are three main accusations:

Firstly, residents of Derna, the hardest-hit town, say they were told to stay at home rather than being evacuated even though it was known that Storm Daniel was coming. 

Secondly, local and regional authorities are accused of failing to address the danger posed by the dams on the Derna riverbed, which runs through the town. Two dams spanning the Derna valley inland from the city burst on 11 September, causing the catastrophic flooding.

Finally, the authorities are accused of hindering the aid effort in the days immediately after the tragedy. Pepijn Hakstege

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