Providing generous aid to Libya is the least we can do. The West has a responsibility and can also learn lessons from it.
A week after the flood in Libya, it is becoming increasingly clear what a terrible disaster has occurred. A disaster that probably has much more serious consequences because Libya is a failing state. Citizens are not well protected and roads, dams and other infrastructure are poorly maintained.
According to the United Nations, the death toll from the flooding has risen to almost 11,500 and more than 10,000 people are still missing. Libyan media report that at least 891 buildings in the coastal city of Derna have been completely destroyed.
Storm Daniel, which hit the area a week ago, left a trail of destruction. The consequences were much more serious because dams that were supposed to protect the city turned out to be poorly maintained. The rescue work is also made more difficult because the roads leading to the city are not in order.
Citizens also appear not to have been properly warned about the floods. There was also no good evacuation plan.
The country has been in crisis ever since the civil war in the country and NATO’s attack on the regime of then dictator Gaddafi. There is no central authority and it has not been safe in many places in Libya for some time.
It goes far too far to hold the West solely responsible for this. But Western powers did play a role. It cannot be ruled out that the size of the storm and floods will be more serious due to climate change, to which we all contribute.
In any case, out of humanity alone, it is necessary to provide generous assistance. No matter how difficult it is to get help to the right place, we have to try.
There are also lessons to be learned from the disaster. An important one is that a well-functioning government apparatus is certainly not a luxury. Dikes that protect the country, infrastructure and communication systems, a sound administrative apparatus and well-equipped emergency services, we cannot take it seriously enough in the Netherlands.