In Fragmented Libya, Catastrophic Flooding Becomes a Unifying Force

Zahra el-Gerbi had low expectations for the online donation drive she initiated, yet she felt compelled to act after losing four family members in the floods that ravaged the eastern Libyan city of Derna. She used social media to appeal for contributions to aid those left homeless by the flooding.

Within the first 30 minutes of posting her plea on Facebook, the clinical nutritionist based in Benghazi reported that both acquaintances and unknown individuals had begun pledging financial and material assistance.

“The funds are intended for essentials like clothing, food, and shelter,” stated el-Gerbi.

For a large portion of the Libyan population, the shared sorrow for over 11,000 lives lost has transformed into a call for national cohesion in a nation scarred by 12 years of strife and fragmentation. Concurrently, the calamity has increased scrutiny on high-ranking politicians, who some believe have contributed to the disaster.

Libya, abundant in oil reserves, has been politically split since 2014, governed by two rival factions: one with international recognition based in Tripoli and another located in the east, which includes Derna. Both factions are supported by international backers and armed groups, whose sway has expanded since the NATO-supported Arab Spring movement ousted dictator Moammar Gadhafi in 2011. Repeated United Nations interventions to mend the divisions have been unsuccessful.

On the early morning of September 11, two dams above Derna burst, unleashing a deluge that swallowed entire neighborhoods. The catastrophe resulted in at least 11,300 deaths and displaced another 30,000.

A wave of solidarity for Derna’s residents emerged afterward. Communities from neighboring Benghazi and Tobruk offered to shelter those affected. A hospital in Tripoli, situated 1,450 kilometers (approximately 900 miles) to the west, committed to providing free surgical procedures for flood victims.

Ali Khalifa, an oil rig worker from Zawiya, mentioned that his cousin and others from their area joined a vehicle convoy to assist in Derna’s relief. He also noted the participation of local scouting groups.

Fifty-year-old Mohamed al-Harari expressed a common sentiment. “The tragedy in Derna has touched Libyans from the west to the south to the east,” he said.

In an uncommon turn of events, the rival governments have started to cooperate in relief efforts. As recently as 2020, they were engaged in full-scale warfare, with Gen. Khalifa Hifter’s forces unsuccessfully besieging Tripoli in an attempt to seize the capital.

Claudia Gazzini, a senior Libya analyst at the International Crisis Group, observed, “We have even seen military commanders from the coalition aligned with Tripoli appearing in Derna to show their support.”

However, relief distribution in Derna has been markedly disorganized, with only minimal aid reaching those in need in the days subsequent to the flood.

Nationally, the disaster has further highlighted the inefficiencies of Libya’s fragmented governance. While volunteers rushed to assist, Ibrahim al-Sunwisi, a Tripoli-based journalist, noted that there was “a sort of disarray between the eastern and western governments” regarding coordinated actions.

Government officials have also been criticized for neglecting dam maintenance. A 2021 audit by a state-run agency revealed that despite having allocated more than $2 million for dam maintenance in 2012 and 2013, the dams had not been adequately maintained.

Noura el-Gerbi, a journalist and activist also from Derna, declared, “All those in authority bear responsibility. They will be held accountable for any future flooding.”

This disaster is the latest in a series of issues arising from Libya’s unstable political climate. As recently as August, infighting between rival militias in the capital resulted in at least 45 deaths.

In response to mounting pressure, Libya’s General Prosecutor al-Sediq al-Sour announced an investigation into the dam failures and past governance. However, Libyan political leaders, including Abdul-Hamid Dbeibah, the Prime Minister of Libya’s Tripoli government, have so far evaded full responsibility.

Aguila Saleh, the speaker of Libya’s eastern administration, described the flood as an unparalleled natural disaster, cautioning against speculation on what could have been done differently.

As the relief and recovery work in Derna concludes, substantial challenges lie ahead for Libya. The path to repopulating the city and its reconstruction remains uncertain.

El-Gerbi, who has since deactivated her online donation platform to encourage direct contributions to the Red Crescent, reported that two of her uncles, along with potentially tens of thousands of others, are en route from Derna to Benghazi.

“They lack employment, housing, and even basic sustenance,” she concluded.

This report includes contributions from Jeffery in London.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Libya Flooding and National Unity

More about Libya Flooding and National Unity

• Libya’s Dam Failures
• Libya’s Ongoing Political Divide
• Libya’s History of Conflict