2023-09-22 08:50:31
Eastern Libya is still reeling from the devastation of Hurricane Daniel. Days following the disaster, thousands of Libyans who have lost their loved ones and are without even a place to sleep cannot be comforted. They are once more facing a threat in the form of sewage.
Health experts are warning that water-borne diseases are spreading widely in many areas, such as Derna, which was hit the hardest by the floods. The reason for this situation is that all the water sources are filled with flood water mixed with garbage. People’s use of water, which is currently full of chemicals and germs, can have far-reaching consequences. The World Health Organization has stated that the lack of sanitation and water pollution lead to the spread of diseases such as cholera, typhoid, polio and hepatitis A. Currently, both of these situations exist in Libya.
The changing political situation in Libya since 2011 has left infrastructure in disarray and the scope of disasters such as epidemics will increase. Due to serious problems with sewage disposal sources, more and more people are relying on sewage for drinking purposes. According to information from the United Nations Office of Humanitarian Affairs, at least 150 people have been confirmed to have contracted water-borne illnesses in the 10 days since the floods hit Libya. It will also include 55 children from Derna. In addition to recovering from the floods, if water-borne diseases are not prevented and clean water is not provided, Libya will soon witness another disaster.
At the same time, reports are also coming out that climate change has led to the situation of storms and floods. High emissions of greenhouse gases have resulted in 50 percent more rainfall than expected. Due to political conflicts, measures to prevent such situations might not be effectively implemented and caused the flood to reach more areas and people. It can also be read that the dams failed to be secured in time.
Climate scientists at the World Weather Attribution Group concluded that under current conditions, storms of similar strength are more likely to occur in the region at least once in ten years. The current threat to Libya can only be brought to an end by taking steps to improve essential infrastructure as soon as possible, including chlorination and disinfection of public water sources. Along with that, people need to be given proper awareness regarding the adverse conditions that can be caused by sewage.
Content Highlights: Libya | Threat | Disaster | Flood
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