Libya Floor

In Libya, a catastrophic flood in the eastern city of Darna has resulted in at least six thousand feared dead, with thousands more missing. The flood was caused by torrential rains from Storm Daniel, which led to the bursting of two dams. As a result, entire sections of the city have been wiped out, with water reaching as high as 10 feet in certain areas. The United Nations has labeled this flood as a "Calamity of Epic Proportions." Rescue operations have faced challenges in reaching Derna due to the city's limited access, with only one unobstructed road leading into it. At Dennis Hospital, people are desperately searching for their loved ones amidst piles of dead bodies that have been lined up on the ground. According to Muhammad Akabisi, the hospital's manager, this particular section has recorded 1,700 deaths so far. The identified individuals are being buried on-site, while those who remain unidentified are being photographed, assigned numbers, and given a burial as well. In addition to this, 500 people have been buried separately. The situation at the hospital is dire, as it is in a dilapidated state. Muhammad Committee, a resident of Derna, shared that many people were caught off guard as they were sleeping when the dams failed. He mentioned that his house is located near the valley, opposite the Al-Shahaba Mosque, and expressed a sense of helplessness, stating, "This is what happens. What can we do?" The entire family resides in close proximity as neighbors. Unfortunately, they have already lost 30 individuals, all belonging to the same family. The aftermath of the 2011 uprising against Moammar Gaddafi, supported by the Obama Administration and NATO, has resulted in the deterioration of a significant portion of Libya's infrastructure. The city's dams, in particular, have not received proper maintenance for over two decades. The recent flooding was caused by a rare Mediterranean cyclone known as a medicane, which also brought unprecedented floods to Greece, Turkey, and Bulgaria. It is worth noting that these floods occurred just a week before a crucial United Nations Summit on the climate crisis in New York. Greenpeace International emphasizes the urgent need for governments to take action against fossil fuels, as they continue to push us further into a climate disaster. Now, let's turn our attention to the city of Tripoli in Libya, where we have the pleasure of being joined by youth climate activist Nissa Beck. Although Tripoli itself was not physically impacted by the recent catastrophe in Derna, could you please provide us with an overview of the situation there? Specifically, we are interested in hearing about the estimated 6,000 individuals affected. Approximately 10,000 people may have perished up to this point. I extend my condolences for this tragic loss. Firstly, I want to clarify that while Tripoli itself is not directly impacted by this particular event, it does not mean that the western region of Libya is immune to heavy rainfall or smaller storms. In fact, just last week, the city of Zliton, situated in the west, experienced severe flooding due to six hours of rain. This issue of flooding is not new to us, as we have been grappling with it for years. The poor infrastructure in Libya has been a longstanding challenge, predating even the 2011 Revolution and the time of Gaddafi. Many well-constructed buildings, which were established over a century ago during Italian colonization, still exist today. However, structures built during the 1960s are more susceptible to rain or even minor weather fluctuations. The events in Derna were actually anticipated, as I have long foreseen this outcome. As a climate activist, I consistently urge government officials and strive to disseminate relevant information on this matter. Darna has experienced this situation before, not once but twice in the past decade. The first occurrence was in the 1940s, followed by another in the 1980s. Just two years ago, Mr. Abdelaziz Ashur, a civil engineer, published a paper in collaboration with the University of Sabha. In his research, he warned about the precarious condition of both dams and predicted their imminent collapse. Additionally, he emphasized the urgent need for extensive tree planting in the area to combat desertification, as the presence of dry sand exacerbates flooding. Despite considerable media coverage surrounding this catastrophe, little attention was given to the role of climate change or the government's responsibility for the incident. It is worth noting that this event marked the fourth occurrence of the Dania storm, with Darna being the most severely affected. To provide some context on Libya's climate crisis, the country signed the UN climate change framework in 2015 and ratified the Paris Agreement in 2021. However, the government has not fulfilled its obligations to submit national determined contributions or national adaptation plans, which would outline their strategies for risk reduction in such situations. It is important to highlight that many other countries have already declared emergencies and conducted preemptive evacuations, whereas Libya failed to take similar measures despite being aware of the storm approaching the Libyan coast. The government has failed to declare a state of emergency and has not initiated any evacuation efforts. Additionally, it was not until yesterday when the president finally addressed the situation and requested specific assistance. Rather than medical supplies and food, rescue teams, search teams, and air transportation are desperately needed. However, the country lacks the necessary infrastructure, including functional airports, to effectively distribute aid to those in need. As a result, every passing minute without air support or helicopters means countless lives lost. It took two days for the government to acknowledge the urgency of the situation and claim to be working on a strategy, but their lack of preparedness and planning is evident. This highlights the question of the Ministry of Environmental Affairs' role in the crisis. Furthermore, the presence of two conflicting governments in Libya since Gaddafi's death a decade ago has complicated logistical efforts. For instance, aid from Egypt is being coordinated with General Haftar in the East, who is not recognized by the international community, instead of the officially recognized government. This means that the president is unaware of the ongoing negotiations and agreements. Therefore, the issue extends beyond logistics and is primarily rooted in climate and environmental factors. A significant aspect of our strategy to combat climate change and natural disasters involves the submission of risk reduction strategies during COPs. However, it seems that these strategies are not being submitted. The Environmental Affairs Ministry should play a crucial role in this matter, but they seem to be completely inactive. Interestingly, I have a reliable source who informed me that the Minister of Environmental Affairs has been submitting numerous projects and proposals to President Abdel Hamid Baba. Unfortunately, the president has been rejecting all of them and continuously postponing their consideration. Consequently, the ministry is not receiving any funding, and its employees have not been paid for over two years. This dire situation raises concerns, especially when considering Libya's heavy reliance on oil and gas for foreign income. Despite the increasing dangers of the climate crisis, the country continues to sign long-term deals, like the recent agreement with Italy for the next 20 to 30 years. It appears that decision-makers are not taking the climate issue seriously. When confronted about this, they acknowledge the problem but dismiss it as something that does not require immediate attention. The hope is that this tragic event will serve as a turning point, prompting a more serious approach to the climate crisis. Last year, at the U.N. climate Summit in Egypt, wealthy nations agreed to establish a loss and damage fund, specifically aimed at addressing the devastating impacts of climate change in the global South. This fund represents a significant breakthrough for these countries, which have been advocating for such a mechanism for the past three decades. However, it faced opposition from the United States and other major polluting nations. In terms of demands for wealthier nations, it is important to acknowledge that while the root of the issue lies with polluting countries like the United States, in this particular situation, it is not solely their responsibility to fix what happened. Our own government bears fault for this tragedy. The problem with the loss and damage fund is that it cannot bring back the lives we have lost. Its purpose lies in the future, specifically in the reconstruction efforts of places like Darna. However, the cost associated with this reconstruction raises concerns. By that point, we will have already lost numerous lives, and the future holds the potential for further losses if we do not address the issue more seriously. Currently, it is not productive to assign blame solely to the United States or China. I do not have that mindset at the moment. Instead, I believe it is crucial for all states, regardless of their location, to take the loss and damage fund seriously. Additionally, it is essential for them to prioritize the Conference of Parties (COP) and adhere to their commitments by submitting their national action plans (NAPs) and indices. The consequences of not taking these commitments seriously have been witnessed, and a comprehensive risk reduction strategy is necessary. It is crucial to have a plan in place for potential disasters, considering Libya's low precipitation levels and the unexpected occurrence of flooding. These are the expectations moving forward. We appreciate Nisha Beck, a youth climate activist joining us from Tripoli, Libya, and will continue to follow the developments in Libya closely.