Residents of Zliten Municipality are demanding the immediate establishment of a reconstruction fund to tackle the worsening groundwater crisis, urging swift action from parliament and the High Council of State.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, locals from Zliten emphasized the critical need to compensate affected individuals and repair homes damaged by the increasing groundwater levels, which have resulted in evacuations and displacement, raising concerns of an impending disaster.
They called for timely compensation for citizens and the restoration of homes impacted by the surge in groundwater.
Furthermore, residents urged the expedited completion of halted housing projects to accommodate displaced families, stressing the importance of establishing a clear timeline for implementation.
The recent surge in groundwater levels in Zliten has prompted the evacuation of several areas within the municipality, compelling dozens of families to abandon their residences.
The Ministry of Housing and Reconstruction in the Libyan Government of National Unity has received reports of 1165 homes damaged by the rising groundwater levels in Zliten.
A technical committee, appointed by the ministry, continues to assess the damages in Zliten, focusing on structural issues such as cracks and foundation subsidence caused by the groundwater.
According to the ministry’s statement, there are still 177 pending files with deficiencies awaiting approval from local authorities.
The committee, led by Minister of Housing and Reconstruction Abu Bakr Al-Ghawi, was tasked with evaluating the damages to homes affected by the rising groundwater levels in Zliten.
Earlier this month, the Libyan House of Representatives declared Zliten a disaster zone and allocated funds to address the crisis. The government designated by the parliament is responsible for monitoring the situation in the city, as announced during its current session in the eastern region of the country.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister of the parliament-designated government, Osama Hammad, declared a state of emergency in Zliten due to the increased levels of groundwater surfacing.
