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An international report stated - yesterday, Wednesday - that the sweeping floods that witnessed eastern Libya last September constituted a climate and environmental catastrophe that required $1.8 billion for reconstruction and recovery.
The torrents destroyed vast areas of the city of Derna, Benghazi, Al-Bayda, Al-Marj, and Sousse, in addition to other areas, after the heavy rainfall accompanying Storm Daniel led to the collapse of two ancient dams, causing floods that drowned entire regions in the Mediterranean Sea.
The report issued by the World Bank, the United Nations, and the European Union stated that the disaster affected about 1.5 million people, or 22% of Libya’s population, and referred to data from the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs stating that 4,352 people were killed, while 8,000 are still missing.
Libyan official sources estimated the number of completely destroyed buildings in Derna at 891, partially 211, and about 398 buildings submerged in mud. The total area of the area inundated by torrents and floods in Derna is estimated at 6 square kilometers.
Last September, the House of Representatives approved an emergency budget estimated at 10 billion Libyan dinars (two billion dollars) to confront the effects of floods and rehabilitate the stricken cities.
Derna is still in a state of paralysis as a result of the disaster, as it suffers in aspects of its daily life and in meeting the needs of displaced families and the impact of basic services, while Sousse complains of the authorities’ lack of attention to it and the absence of humanitarian support and aid, while Al-Bayda is witnessing the spread of intestinal diseases due to the contamination of a number of people. From drinking water wells.
Source: Reuters