Washington has called for Libya’s factions to form a united front as the country tries to recover from last month’s devastating floods.
On September 11, heavy rainfall from Storm Daniel caused major flooding in Derna, a city in eastern Libya on the Mediterranean coast. Two dams burst creating a deluge of water that washed away roughly one third of the city’s buildings.
“The US focus is on trying to help the Libyans pull together a unified reconstruction effort to maximise its effectiveness,” said Richard Norland, US Special Envoy for Libya.
Government officials and aid agencies estimate the death toll from the disaster to be between 4,000 and 11,000.
Washington has contributed $12 million in humanitarian assistance to Libya, making it the largest donor to the relief efforts in Derna.
Reconstruction efforts have been complicated by Libya's deep divisions. Since 2011, when a Nato-backed uprising toppled longtime dictator Muammar Qaddafi, rival factions have vied for power.
The UN-backed Government of National Unity controls the capital Tripoli and much of the west, while the Libyan National Army, led by Khalifa Haftar, which is allied with a parliament confirmed government, controls Derna as it governs the east and south.
Attempts to hold unified elections have so far failed. But Washington believes the tragedy in Derna has created an opportunity for the country to come together.
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An upturned car inside a shop where it was carried by a torrent of floodwater in Derna, Libya. Reuters -
A flood survivor takes a breather from removing mud from his home in the aftermath of deadly floods in Derna. Reuters -
Mohammed Fathallah Al Hassi lost his mother and sister in Derna when dams collapsed, flooding the city, after heavy rainfall and a powerful storm hit eastern Libya. Reuters -
A Spanish rescue worker in Derna where authorities have been struggling to cope with thousands of flood victims' bodies washing up or decaying under rubble. Reuters -
The destruction in the aftermath of the floods in Derna, Libya, as seen from the air. Reuters -
A view of Derna in the aftermath of the floods. Reuters -
The aftermath of the floods in Derna. Libyan authorities said access to some areas had become impossible. Reuters -
Volunteers amid the ruins and damaged homes after the Mediterranean Storm Daniel hit Libya's eastern city of Derna. AFP -
A rubble-strewn street in Libya's eastern city of Soussa. AFP -
People view areas damaged in the flooding in Derna, Libya. Reuters -
Locals view a list of the missing following the floods in Derna. Reuters -
A Palestinian woman in the Gaza Strip displays a picture of her relatives, who had been living in Libya, that were among the victims of the flooding. Reuters -
Libya's port city of Derna, days after floods swept away entire communities after two dams collapsed amid heavy rain. Reuters -
The dams collapsed causing a huge flash flood that killed thousands of people. Reuters -
Thousands were still missing while more than 30,000 were displaced. Reuters -
Five Emirati planes arrived in Benghazi carrying three rescue teams, urgent relief and medical aid, as part of UAE efforts to provide relief to the Libyan people. Wam -
Sudanese workers who lost family members and friends during the disaster sit outside a tile factory in Derna. Reuters -
A police vehicle washed away by floods lies on a street in Derna. AFP -
A militiaman directs vehicles on along a muddy road after deadly floods caused by Storm Daniel hit Derna, forcing two dams to collapse. AFP -
Vehicles washed away by the floods are piled up on the outskirts of Derna. AFP -
A school damaged by the floods in Derna. Reuters -
A man carries his belongings, in the aftermath of floods in Derna. Reuters -
A worker puts bread in a box at a bakery, in the aftermath of the floods in Derna. Reuters -
The trail of destruction left by the floods that hit Derna. AFP
“I think we're entering a period of real political ferment and the events in Derna and eastern Libya have added new urgency to the need to unify the country's institutions,” Ambassador Norland told reporters.
Mr Norland cautioned that unified elections would not “happen overnight” but that all the necessary parties needed to be involved in the process.
“Now is the time for them to send representatives to take part in these discussions,” he said. “This really offers the best hope for Libyans not only to move forward on the reconstruction process, but also towards the political unity and the legitimisation of their institutions.”
