– Radiance News Service
New Delhi, 14 Sep: According to a study released on Wednesday by the International Organization for Migration, the aftermath of catastrophic flash floods triggered by Storm Daniel has left over 30,000 people homeless in Libya’s eastern city of Derna. The UN agency also reports that several others have been displaced in nearby communities. The death toll has risen to 5,500, with an additional 7,000 injured.
These devastating floods resulted from the failure of two river dams during the Sunday afternoon storm, unleashing a massive torrent of water that swept through the coastal city of Derna, destroying homes and tragically claiming lives.
Osama Ali, a spokesperson for emergency services based in Tripoli, has raised concerns about the nearly 10,000 individuals who remain missing. As per the Xinhua news agency, these affected areas are now grappling with a dire shortage of essential supplies.
“If a fully operational meteorological service had been in place, timely warnings could have been issued, and emergency management could have conducted evacuations, potentially averting most of the human casualties,” emphasized Petteri Taalas, Secretary-General of the UN’s World Meteorological Organization (WMO), during a news conference in Geneva on Thursday. “While we cannot entirely eliminate economic losses,” Taalas added, “adequate services could have minimized these losses.”
Taalas highlighted that the WMO has endeavored to collaborate with Libyan officials to enhance these procedures. However, he acknowledged that the “security situation in the country is so challenging that it hinders our efforts.”
In a statement released by Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, they expressed their heartfelt condolences and issued a plea to the Indian government and other advanced nations for assistance. “We are deeply saddened by the recent flooding and devastation in Libya, which has resulted in significant loss and suffering. Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Libya.
“We earnestly appeal to the Government of India to respond to the urgent call for global aid by the International Rescue Committee and promptly dispatch emergency supplies and humanitarian assistance, as other advanced nations have done.”
