More than two months into a wave of fires that has devastated the town of Al-Asaba, local authorities say that none of the LYD 70 million allocated for victim compensation has reached the municipality or the families affected.
In press statements on Saturday, Imad Al-Maqtouf, the town’s mayor, confirmed that the funds—earmarked to support residents who lost their homes—remain with the Ministry of Local Governance in Tripoli.
“We have not received a single dinar. The money is still being held pending the completion of damage assessments,” he said.
Since the first fires erupted on February 19, more than 160 homes have been damaged or destroyed, according to updated municipal data.
Fires have continued to break out periodically, including during Ramadan and Eid al-Fitr, with the most recent incident reported just this morning.
Al-Maqtouf noted that civil defense teams are still battling flare-ups with limited resources, supported only by basic logistical assistance from the municipality.
Despite announcements that Maltese experts would arrive to assist in investigating the fires, no such team has reached the town.
“We’ve received no official contact from Tripoli or Malta. Everything we know came from media reports,” he said.
The absence of compensation and external support has sparked growing frustration among residents, many of whom remain displaced, without clarity on when or if financial assistance will arrive.
Some suspect foul play behind the fires and are calling for an independent investigation to determine the cause.
Al-Maqtouf appealed to national authorities to act immediately, urging them to release the funds, complete damage verification, and initiate meaningful relief. “People have lost everything. Promises without action only deepen their suffering,” he warned.
