The deadly flooding that hit the eastern Libyan city of Derna last week has left thousands of people dead, missing, and homeless. But as the survivors struggle to cope with the aftermath, they face a new threat: landmines that have been displaced by the raging waters.
Floods wash away landmines from former conflict zones
Derna, a port city of about 90,000 people, was bisected by the Wadi Derna, a seasonal river that flows from the highlands further south. The city was protected from flooding by two dams, but they collapsed on Sunday after heavy rains caused by Mediterranean storm Daniel.
The floodwaters swept away entire neighborhoods, bridges, and buildings, as well as landmines that had been planted in the surrounding areas during years of conflict. Derna was for several years controlled by Islamist militant groups until it was captured in 2019 by Gen Khalifa Haftar, the warlord in charge of an army in the east.
According to the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS), Libya is one of the most heavily mined countries in the world, with an estimated 20 million landmines and other explosive remnants of war. Many of these are unmarked and unmapped, posing a constant danger to civilians.
The floods have made the situation even worse, as landmines have been carried away by the currents and deposited in new locations, making them harder to detect and clear. Some of them may have also been activated by the water pressure or impact.
Survivors face water shortage and disease risk
The landmines are not the only challenge facing the survivors of the floods. Many people have been left without fresh drinking water since the floods contaminated local water sources. On Saturday, a local official reported at least 150 cases of diarrhea.
“Under all circumstances in Derna, it is not allowed to use ordinary drinking water because its contamination percentage is very high,” said Haider al-Sayeh, director of Libya’s National Centre for Disease Control, in a video statement.
Some residents have to travel through areas where landmines may be present to get water from other sources, risking their lives. Others have to rely on bottled water or humanitarian aid, which is scarce and insufficient.
The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has warned of the risk of a disease outbreak due to the lack of clean water and sanitation, as well as the decomposing bodies of humans and animals. The UN has said that at least 1,000 people have been buried so far, but many more remain unaccounted for.
Death toll and missing numbers vary
The exact number of casualties and missing people from the floods is still unclear, as different sources give different figures. The interior ministry of Libya’s eastern government said on Tuesday that more than 5,300 people were presumed dead and 10,000 missing. The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) gave similar numbers on Tuesday.
However, these numbers have been disputed by authorities with the Libyan Red Crescent (LRC), who said they were based on inaccurate estimates and unverified reports. The LRC said on Wednesday that it had confirmed 2,084 deaths and 4,500 missing people so far.
The discrepancy may be due to the difficulty of accessing some areas affected by the floods, as well as the political situation in the country. Libya has been in turmoil since longtime dictator Moammar Gadhafi was toppled in 2011. The country is divided between rival administrations in the east and west, and has no record of successful cooperation.
International aid arrives amid challenges
A number of countries, including Egypt, Germany, Israel, and Russia, have sent aid to Libya to help with the relief efforts. The UN and its agencies have also mobilized resources and personnel to assist the survivors.
However, delivering aid has been hampered by the widespread destruction of roads and infrastructure, as well as security issues and bureaucratic hurdles. Some aid workers have reported being harassed or attacked by armed groups or local authorities.
The UN has appealed for more international support and coordination to address the humanitarian crisis in Libya. It has also urged all parties to respect international humanitarian law and ensure safe access for aid workers.
The UN weather agency WMO has said that most of the deaths could have been avoided if authorities had better warning systems in place. It has called for more investment in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation in Libya and other vulnerable countries.