Libya Faces Disease Outbreak Risk as Flooding Triggers Humanitarian Crisis
Libya is confronting a significant risk of disease outbreaks following devastating floods that have worsened its existing humanitarian crisis. Aid organizations have warned that the spread of disease could compound the already dire situation in the country.
The recent flooding submerged the city of Derna after two upstream dams burst due to torrential rains brought on by a hurricane-strength storm. Thousands of people and homes were washed out to sea, with conflicting reports on the death toll. Islamic Relief and Doctors Without Borders (MSF) have raised concerns about the potential spread of water-borne diseases and the challenges in delivering aid to those in need.
Salah Aboulgasem, the deputy director of partner development at Islamic Relief, described the situation as a second humanitarian crisis and emphasized the risk of disease transmission due to contaminated water systems. He also highlighted the desperate conditions faced by thousands of people in terms of lacking shelter and food.
MSF has deployed teams to assess water and sanitation in the affected areas. Manoelle Carton, MSF’s medical coordinator in Derna, expressed concerns about water-related diseases and described the aid coordination efforts as chaotic.
While the Red Cross and the World Health Organization noted that bodies of natural disaster victims rarely pose health threats, the destruction caused by the flooding and the subsequent lack of basic necessities have created a pressing humanitarian need. The United Nations has launched an appeal for more than $71 million to assist those affected and called for coordination between the rival administrations in Tripoli and the disaster-hit east of the country.
Rescue and relief efforts are ongoing, with the Libyan Red Crescent continuing the search for survivors and clearing debris. However, the extent of the destruction and the number of victims remain largely unknown. Tawfik Shoukri, the spokesperson for the Libyan Red Crescent, acknowledged the high level of destruction in Derna but refrained from providing specific figures.
As the international community mobilizes to provide aid, Stephanie Williams, a former UN envoy to Libya, has called for global coordination efforts to avoid self-interested actions by Libya’s ruling class. There is a need for significant reconstruction, which was highlighted by Ahmed al-Mesmari, the spokesperson for the east-based military strongman Khalifa Haftar.
In conclusion, as Libya grapples with the aftermath of devastating floods, the risk of disease outbreaks poses a grave threat to the already vulnerable population. The international community must come together to provide essential aid and ensure coordination to alleviate the suffering and assist in rebuilding the affected areas.
