Today, Wednesday, September 11, marks the first anniversary of the Derna tragedy, when Storm Daniel swept through a number of cities in the Green Mountain, bringing heavy rains and strong winds. The storm caused the collapse of two dams in Derna, unleashing a devastating wave that swept through the city center, killing thousands of people and causing widespread destruction.
According to UN reports, the number of documented deaths has exceeded 5,923 people, while the city’s residents estimate that the number is much higher. According to the UN, at least 4,862 people have become homeless after their homes completely collapsed.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs estimates that approximately 250,000 people are in urgent need of humanitarian assistance, including shelter, health care, water, food and education.
Victim compensation and reconstruction
Local and international organizations and city residents have pointed fingers at the Libyan authorities in the east and west for failing to provide the necessary support to the victims of the disaster, leaving them to face their fate after their homes and lives were destroyed, for not providing adequate compensation to the victims of the disaster, and for not providing the necessary support to rebuild the city.
International reports by a number of newspapers, including Radio France Internationale, Agence France-Presse, and the American Alhurra channel, criticized the reconstruction work in Derna, as it is proceeding without transparency and is not subject to regulatory bodies. Alhurra channel titled its report “The disaster that has turned into a ‘gold mine’ in Libya,” referring to the exploitation of the event by those in charge of rebuilding Derna for profit.
The Radio France Internationale report said that the Development and Reconstruction Fund, affiliated with Belqasim Haftar, has become the main political weapon of the authorities in eastern Libya, noting that its method of operation is ambiguous and raises many questions, including the lack of transparency in the sources of obtaining funds.
Legal accounting
In late July, the Derna Criminal Court issued prison sentences ranging from 5 to 27 years, in addition to fines, against 12 Libyan officials for their role in the collapse of the two dams.
But these rulings did not include senior officials in Haftar’s forces, who were responsible for issuing questionable orders that prevented aid from reaching flood victims, according to Human Rights Watch, which added, “There was no accountability for orders that prevented people from leaving their homes when the storm hit and during the floods.”
These gaps in justice have led to calls from human rights organizations, including Human Rights Watch, for an independent international investigation into the Derna disaster, with the aim of uncovering the truth and achieving justice for the victims.
One year after this disaster, its memories remain alive in the minds of the people of Derna, who still face challenges in rebuilding their lives and reconstructing their city.
Source: Agencies.
2024-09-13 12:57:24