Shafaat Yar Khan
Eastern Libya experienced its deadliest storm in recorded history over Sunday and Monday, with devastating consequences. The preliminary death toll from Storm Daniel stands at 11,300, according to a UN report released Saturday, even as continuing search efforts are expected to find more victims. A further 170 people have been killed outside of Derna due to the flooding, the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) said.In Derna alone, at least 10,100 people remain missing.
Storm Daniel makes it Africa’s deadliest storm since 1900, surpassing the 1927 floods in Algeria. This catastrophe has added immense pressure to an already struggling society, demanding a colossal recovery effort. The epicenter of the destruction was in Derna, a port city with a population of 90,000, where aging dams failed, allowing a massive surge of floodwaters to devastate the town along the Wadi Derna, typically a dry riverbed. Buildings were inundated or collapsed, further compounding the tragedy.
People have been stranded in their homes with no electricity and access to water. Some have been evacuated and given temporary shelter. Three main hospitals and four clinics are completely out of service.
Iran President Ebrahim Raeisi has voiced Iran’s readiness to send relief aid and provide medical assistance and supplies to Libya over the deadly flood in the North African country.
In a message addressed to the Libyan prime minister, Raeisi also offered condolences to the Libyan nation. The storm and devastating flooding in the country, which left a large number of people dead, injured or missing, has been deeply saddening, Raeisi said.
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian also sympathized with the Libyan government and nation over the deadly storm and flooding. He expressed compassion over the death and injury of thousands of people in Libya.
Meanwhile, the head of Iran’s Red Crescent Society (IRCS) also wrote a message to the president of Libyan Red Crescent Society, offering to help the flood-hit country.
In this difficult situation, on behalf of the IRCS and myself, I would like to express my condolences to you and your colleagues in the Libyan Red Crescent and announce our readiness to send humanitarian relief aid, relief items as well as dispatch medical and relief teams to assist the flood-affected people and help with the humanitarian operation in Libya, Kolivand said.
In the wake of the storm, Derna faces a monumental recovery effort. The immediate priority is the provision of shelter, food, clean water, and medical assistance to those affected. International relief organizations, along with local and national authorities, are working tirelessly to provide aid and support to the survivors.
Rebuilding Derna will not be easy, but the spirit and resilience of the city’s inhabitants are remarkable. Communities have come together, offering support to one another in these trying times. As the international community rallies to assist Derna, there is hope that the city can rise from the ashes and rebuild stronger than ever before.
Storm Daniel’s devastating impact on Derna, Libya, serves as a stark reminder of the destructive power of nature. The tragedy has highlighted the need for improved infrastructure and disaster preparedness in vulnerable regions. As the city and its people embark on the long road to recovery, the world watches, ready to offer assistance and support in their time of need. Derna’s strength and determination will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in the city’s resurgence, demonstrating the resilience of the human spirit in the face of unimaginable adversity.
The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Coverpage’s editorial stance.
