By Marissa Jacobs ‘23, Noga Arieh ‘23, and Emily Maines ‘23 Cyclone Daniel struck Libya this past September, bringing with it extremely dangerous weather conditions that threatened life and property throughout the Northeastern regions of the country. The storm has already been identified as the deadliest Mediterranean tropical cyclone in recorded history, killing at least 3,958, with over 10,000 missing or presumed dead in one city alone.
Rescue teams have worked tirelessly since the cyclone hit, struggling to find and identify bodies of people who fell victim to the tsunami-like floods, with the Libyan Red Crescent (the national affiliate of the International Committee for the Red Cross) reporting at least ten thousand missing persons. The climate crisis tremendously increased the likelihood of a storm like this, which is called a “medicane” or “Mediterranean cyclone." Scientists have found that climate change made a medicane of this magnitude 50 times more likely, and increased the storm’s strength by up to 50%. Junior Jolie Feig reacted to this discovery, saying, “Climate change is a pressing issue in today’s world, and the fact that it is causing death and tragedy around the world is unsettling to hear about.” Derna was known to be the worst affected city, as heavy flooding and strong winds caused two dams and four bridges to collapse, further submerging much of the city with water and killing around 1 in 5 people. The mayor of Derna, Abdel Moneim al-Ghaithi, said, “The situation is very large and surprising for the city of Derna. We were not able to confront it with our capabilities that preceded the storm and the torrent.” The failure of the dams in Derna was one of the primary causes of damage, as entire buildings were washed into the ocean, with 891 buildings completely destroyed and 609 further damaged. Derna’s double dam collapse is already believed to be the second deadliest disaster of its kind in history. Experts believe that the death toll could have been much lower if the country had stronger warning systems in place, as city officials could not properly warn people of the dangers of the dam, which had not been properly maintained. Libya’s head of state, Mohamed al-Menfi, posted on X (the social media site formerly known as Twitter) that his government would investigate any possible negligence or corruption related to the lack of proper upkeep of the dam and determine whether it contributed to the disaster. Public anger has risen against the status quo, with protestors burning down the house of Derna’s mayor in anger over perceived negligence relating to the dams’ upkeep. Junior Daniella Lofstock said, “The further tragedy that occurred because of the failure in the upkeep of the dam could have been prevented, and I believe it is important to determine how significant of a cause this was.” The humanitarian crisis is worsened by the lack of sanitary water following the cyclone, as fears over waterborne diseases such as cholera grow. Bodies continued washing ashore for days after the storm, making access to clean water difficult. The destroyed dams in Derna held the city’s main reservoir for drinking water, and floodwaters have inundated the plumbing systems of several cities, allowing untreated sewage to mix with water that has now risen to the surface of streets. Elie Abouaoun, the Country Director for Libya at the International Rescue Committee, said, “Access to clean water, sanitation, and hygiene facilities will be required to prevent a further crisis within a crisis.” Cyclone Daniel also hit several other countries in the Central Mediterranean, killing 4 in Bulgaria, 7 in Turkey and 17 in Greece, which had previously faced devastating fires throughout the summer. Countries around the world immediately offered aid to Libya to provide some relief from the catastrophic loss of life and property, with the United Kingdom donating £1 million ($1.25 million), Egypt setting up “shelter camps” near their border with Libya and Turkey sending two planes carrying 168 aid workers, two search-and-rescue vehicles, two boats and assorted humanitarian aid. Junior Ari Jacobs was glad to hear about the foreign humanitarian aid, saying, “People should educate themselves about disasters like this that occur all over the world, even when it doesn't directly affect them.” Nevertheless, rescue efforts are still somewhat curbed by the complicated political situation in Libya, as the country is in the midst of its second civil war since 2011, when the country’s long-time dictator Muammar Gaddafi was overthrown, which led to a US-led NATO force intervention that heavily destabilized the already fragile state. Some are hoping, however, that the messages of solidarity and unity coming from across the country, even in regions controlled by opposing forces, suggest a new spirit of reconciliation in the country and that this tragedy could also be an opportunity for peace to return. “Libya has had a very rough modern history, and this catastrophic flooding and subsequent public health crisis is unfortunately likely to further destabilize the country,” said junior Shayne Cytrynbaum. “My hope, however, is that this disaster can be the ‘straw that breaks the camel’s back’ and cause ordinary Libyans to demand an end to years of fighting, a return to just and democratic government, and truth and reconciliation commissions to investigate the systemic problems and individual errors that led to this disaster. Sometimes a tragedy can be a catalyst for deep reflection and bold change, and as we see more and more climate disasters, I hope that we all truly learn from them.”
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