Repair work was agreed but never finished and Derna paid the price. Experts say infrastructure projects have long been neglected, with officials focusing instead on lining their own pockets.
Tag: Derna (Libya)
Derna, Libya’s ‘City of Poets,’ Pays a Heavy Price in Floods
Derna, which lost entire neighborhoods and thousands of residents in the deluge, has a history as a cultural and intellectual hub as well as a rebellious streak.
After Libya Flooding, Signs Point to a Crackdown on Dissent
Several people have been arrested and some journalists and aid workers have been shut out of the eastern city of Derna after dams burst, killing thousands. Communications have also been disrupted.
East Libya’s Leader Keeps Tight Control Over Flood Aid
Khalifa Hifter, who oversees a military dictatorship that leads the eastern half of the divided, oil-rich nation, is dominating the response to the disaster and could use it to entrench his power further.
Libyan Protesters Demand Accountability After Floods Killed Thousands
The cries of protesters were part of a rising chorus of calls for answers from leaders across a divided Libya, specifically for an international investigation.
Relief Efforts in Libya Turn to Disease Prevention, as Hopes for Finding Survivors Dim
Thousands were killed after dams broke last week in the country’s northeast, displacing more than 40,000 people, and leaving survivors with a shortage of medical supplies and drinking water.
Libya Dams Were in Danger, Engineer Warned
“The state wasn’t interested,” said an engineer who published a paper on why Derna’s dams, after decades of postponed repairs, might fail under the stress of a powerful storm.
Hundreds of Libya Flood Victims Buried in Mass Graves
Thousands remain missing following the devastating flood in the country’s northeast. Health officials fear the window to recover them alive is closing.
After Libya Floods, a Chaotic Scramble for Rescuers
“The situation is still very bad — there is a mismanagement of the crisis,” said one volunteer. Thousands of people died, and many are still missing, after heavy rains led to the collapse of two dams.
Libyan Flood Survivor Recounts Horror After Dams Burst
“We walked out barefoot and saw our friends and neighbors dying,” said a woman from Derna, Libya. More than 5,000 are reported dead, and 10,000 more are believed to be missing.