(Beirut) – An independent inquiry is needed to review failings in Libyan authorities’ management of catastrophic flooding in eastern Libya in September 2023, Human Rights Watch said today. With the conclusion of the mandate of the United Nations Independent Fact-Finding Mission on Libya in March, no international investigative mechanism is functioning for Libya. Storm Daniel reached Libya on September 9, causing severe flooding the next day after two dams upstream from Derna collapsed. At 1:12 a.m., the Water Resources Ministry reassured residents under curfew that all dams in Derna had been inspected and were in good condition. Reconstruction and compensation efforts for those affected by the storm have been complicated by deep political divisions between the two governments, both of which established reconstruction funds for Derna and eastern Libya.

Source: Libya Today December 07, 2023 01:46 UTC