The city of Derna, devastated by violent floods exactly one year ago, has become a gigantic construction site in recent months. But many experts denounce “the opacity surrounding these projects” and their use as a “political launching pad”.
A year ago, violent floods brought death and devastation to Derna in eastern Libya. The reconstruction has become a goldmine for Khalifa Haftar’s powerful clan and a way to extend its grip on the country, experts say.
On the night of September 10-11, 2023, Storm Daniel hit the east coast, causing floods, amplified in Derna by the rupture of two dams upstream. The tragedy left around 4,000 dead, thousands missing and more than 40,000 displaced, according to the UN.
The scale of the destruction and the still undetermined human toll have caused shock, revealing the neglect of infrastructure and suspicions of corruption in a country that is nevertheless rich in oil.
Undermined by rivalries and insecurity since the fall and death of dictator Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, Libya is divided into two antagonistic camps with, in the west, a government recognized by the UN, led by Abdelhamid Dbeibah, facing a parallel executive affiliated with the powerful Marshal Khalifa Haftar, who dominates the East and a large part of the South.
For the expert, the reconstruction should have been supervised by UN agencies and local elected officials, “taking anti-corruption measures”.
- FRANCE 24
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