UN warns of disease threat in flood-ravaged east Libya

Derna, Libya – AFP

The UN has warned that disease outbreaks could bring “a second devastating crisis” to Libya a week after a massive flash flood devastated the coastal city of Derna, sweeping thousands to their deaths.

Local officials, aid agencies and the World Health Organization “are concerned about the risk of disease outbreak, particularly from contaminated water and the lack of sanitation”, the United Nations said.

The flash flood that has killed nearly 3,300 people and left thousands more missing came as the war-scarred North African country was lashed by the hurricane-strength Storm Daniel on September 10.

Tens of thousands of traumatized residents are now homeless and badly in need of clean water, food and basic supplies amid a growing risk of cholera, diarrhoea, dehydration and malnutrition, UN agencies have warned.

As rescue teams from several European and Arab countries kept up the grim search for bodies in the mud-caked wasteland of smashed buildings, crushed cars and uprooted trees, Derna survivors recounted the horror of the events.

The health minister of the eastern administration, Othman Abdeljalil, has said that 3,283 people were now confirmed dead in Derna.

Libyan officials and humanitarian organisations have warned, however, that the final toll could be much higher with thousands still missing.

Emergency response teams and aid have been deployed from France, Greece, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, Turkiye and the United Arab Emirates.

On Monday the UN mission in Libya said nine United Nations agencies were involved in efforts to deliver aid and support to survivors.

The United Nations has launched an aid appeal for more than $71 million.

On Monday the Tripoli-based government announced the launch of work to build a temporary bridge that would span the valley that cuts through Derna.

The massive flooding caused two upstream river dams in Derna to rupture, sending a late-night tidal wave crashing through the centre of the city of 100,000 and sweeping entire residential blocks into the Mediterranean.

The rushing waters submerged a six-square-kilometre densely-populated area in Derna, damaging 1,500 buildings of which 891 were totally razed, according to a preliminary report released by the Tripoli government based on satellite images.

The evacuation of the eastern city of Derna following last week’s deadly floods is also likely, the head of the Libyan Red Crescent said.

“The evacuating of Derna city remains a possible option depending on the health situation in the area,” Abdul Salam al-Hajj said.

“There are real health risks as unburied corpses and contaminated water,” he warned.

More than 40,000 people have been displaced across Libya’s northeastern areas by the deadly floods, the UN office said.

On Saturday, Haidar al-Sayeh, head of the Tripoli-based National Center for Disease Control, declared a state of emergency for one year in all the eastern regions that were struck by floods.

Al-Hajj said Libyan medics are still facing difficulties reaching flood-affected areas amid a lack of logistics.

“The Red Crescent teams are working to distribute aid to those affected, rescue the injured, and recover the dead bodies,” he added.