The Libyan Red Crescent has issued a warning to the residents of Tripoli about potential floods, due to heavy rainfall in the Libyan capital.
In a letter addressed to the Mayor of Tripoli, the Red Crescent urged the authorities to alert citizens about the anticipated floods.
It emphasised the necessity of preparing an evacuation plan for affected individuals, including identifying safe routes, and taking precautionary measures for the evacuation of animals.
It also highlighted the continuous monitoring of the weather conditions, and timely communication with residents.
On 10 September, a devastating storm swept through several eastern regions of Libya, notably the cities of Derna, Benghazi, Al-Bayda, Al-Marj, and Sousse, last month. This resulted in significant destruction and led to the loss of thousands of lives, injuries, and missing individuals.
Notably, Human Rights Watch (HRW) has called for an urgent, and independent inquiry into the mismanagement of catastrophic flooding in eastern Libya in September.
The devastating floods, resulting from the collapse of two dams, led to widespread destruction, thousands of casualties, and displacement of tens of thousands.
HRW said that conflicting evacuation orders and a curfew trapped residents in the coastal city of Derna, as torrents of water surged through the area, despite receiving flood warnings days in advance.
The UN reported at least 4,352 fatalities, 43,000 displacements, and 8,000 missing. While Libya’s authorities initiated an investigation and vowed to provide compensation, questions linger about the adequacy of their response.
Human Rights Watch stressed the need for an independent international investigation, citing concerns about the maintenance of ageing infrastructure, particularly the collapsed dams.
The aftermath saw dismissals of local authorities, protests, and detentions. The general prosecutor opened a criminal investigation into officials linked to the dams’ management, but no findings have been disclosed.
Political divisions between the two rival governments further complicated reconstruction, and compensation efforts.
As Libya faces challenges exacerbated by climate change, the call for an independent inquiry seeks accountability, lessons for disaster management, and justice for the victims.