The Speaker of the Libyan Parliament, Ageela Saleh announced the allocation of 10 billion dinars, to tackle the recent humanitarian catastrophe in Derna. In statements to Al-Masar TV, Saleh added that specialized mechanisms have been deployed to monitor spending mechanisms.
Saleh noted that the Parliament was the first to call for an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the Derna disaster.
Storm Daniel struck cities and regions in eastern Libya, leading to flooding that overwhelmed the dams of Wadi Derna and Abu Mansour. The ensuing deluge resulted in thousands of fatalities due to the surging waters from the dams, inflicting significant damage to the city of Derna.
On Monday, the UN Envoy and Head of the United Nations Support Mission to Libya (UNSMIL), Abdoulaye Bathily voiced concerns over the profound governance flaws within Libya, a revelation highlighted by the recent catastrophe in Derna.
Bathily underscored key challenges, including poor maintenance of dam systems, ineffective resource management, and a notable absence of efficient mechanisms to manage natural disasters. He emphasized the persistent lack of a unified political decision-making process at the national level.
In his periodic report to the Security Council, the Envoy noted that UN agencies have conducted a preliminary evaluation of the damages in flood-affected areas, outlining immediate requirements and future needs.
He expressed his concerns to the Security Council, over the growing political division in Libya and how this might hinder reconstruction initiatives in Derna, and its neighbouring regions.
Bathily pointed out the ongoing disputes among Libyan leaders concerning the jurisdiction and authority over reconstruction projects, especially in the east and west of the country.
He also highlighted the UN’s recommendation to set up a consolidated national platform, to evaluate the extent of the damage, and the estimated costs of reconstruction.
While the majority of the reconstruction expenditure is expected to be borne by Libya, Bathily cautioned that the prevailing tensions among Libyan leaders could lead to a sense of disenchantment among the people of Derna.