11 December 2024: Heavy rain and flooding hit the greater capital area
This week we look at the heavy flooding in Tarhouna and the greater capital area, as well as international engagement at the Wilton Park meeting and the NOC announcing 22 exploration blocks.
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Heavy rain and flooding hit the greater capital area with Tarhouna badly impacted and several deaths reported
Incident: On 5 December, very heavy rain started to pour down on the greater Tripoli area. The Tripoli Security Directorate called on all citizens not to leave their homes unless absolutely necessary. A joint emergency room was formed by the GECOL, the ambulance service, the local communication center, the Tripoli Security Directorate and the Public Services Company.
In the evening, Malik Morsit, spokesman for the Emergency Medical and Support Center, confirmed no casualties or injuries so far among citizens due to rains in Tripoli. He said ongoing rescue operations had begun that morning, with teams focusing on the Second Ring Road area and other known water accumulation spots. Highly trained teams had removed some trapped people from the water.
In many cities, the drainage and sewage systems were unable to handle the heavy rainfall. Several main roads were flooded, some even partially washed away. A large number of houses near wadis was flooded with water and mud. Particularly heavily affected were the cities Tarhouna, Ghariyan, and Bani Walid, where larger parts of the residential areas were flooded. The National Security Agency worked throughout the affected area with all available resources to pump out water and rescue people trapped on flooded streets and in flooded homes.
On 6 December in the morning, meteorologists reported that the highest rainfall in the capital area was recorded in al-Hadbha, reaching 129.2 mm, and in Khaled al-Furjan where 142.2 mm was recorded. Later in the day, 155 mm was recorded in Garabulli and 200 mm in Ghariyan. The Ministry of Interior declared a nationwide (in reality a western region-wide) state of emergency across all security directorates and relevant agencies in anticipation of even more severe weather conditions. All citizens were urged to stay away from wadis. Tripoli University suspended studies and exams.
The Wadi Rabea stream in southern Tripoli deviated from its natural course due to the rising level of rainwater. Consequently, the Tripoli Security Directorate called on citizens to exercise caution and evacuate homes in the danger area. The Emergency and Ambulance Service reported the loss of two team members from Bani Walid during rescue operations. They were swept away by flooding in Wadi Washtatah while on the way to support rescue teams in Tarhouna.
On 7 December early in the morning, the National Development Agency announced the departure of a relief convoy from Benghazi to Tarhouna and other flooded areas in western Libya, following the orders of Libyan National Army (LNA) Commander Khalifa Haftar.
Later the same day, when there was an improvement in weather conditions, Government of National Unity (GNU) Minister of Local Government al-Din al-Sadiq al-Toumi announced that two persons lost their lives when their car sank in the flooding caused by overflowing wadis in Tarhouna. One more person was missing (and was later found dead). The minister stressed that the plan put in place in advance to deal with the heavy rainfall had contributed to reducing human losses and praised the coordination between the concerned authorities and affected citizens.
On the same day, PM Abdul Hameed Dabaiba visited the heavily affected city of Tarhouna and promised in a meeting with the Tarhouna Municipal Council the establishment of a Tarhouna development agency with a budget of 100 million LYD. Furthermore, he pledged support to the families affected by the flooding.
On 8 December, the head of Libya’s National Safety Authority, Osman al-Meligta, revealed that the city of Tarhouna is struggling to cope with recent floods due the lack of proper equipment. He complained that - among other things - there is a lack of four-wheel-drive vehicles, which are essential in the flooded areas, and that there is only one bulldozer available, which has hindered efforts to manage the aftermath of the heavy floods. Tarhouna Hospital, established at the confluence of two valleys in the 1970s, is severely damaged.
PM Dabaiba visited Ghariyan, to inspect the damage caused by the heavy rain. He confirmed the government's commitment to providing all the necessary support to the municipality of Ghariyan and announced that funds were already allocated.
Comment: Many cities in Libya do not have proper drainage and many roads do not have proper substructure. It is therefore not surprising that roads are often flooded or washed away during heavy rains. There is a lack of maintenance of some dams. Some wadis are filled with garbage, obstructing the flow of water. As a result, large-scale flooding is common when it rains. In addition, there are not enough well-trained disaster relief personnel and a lack of equipment, which makes it difficult to provide professional assistance to the affected population.
This flooding in north-western Libya follows severe floods in Ghat and the Fezzan region earlier in the year, and the devastating floods in Derna and the Green Mountains in September 2023.
Significance: The Libyan authorities are still not prepared for and not able to deal with natural disasters like this one or the floodings in the area of Ghat earlier in the year, let alone with a catastrophe like in Derna last year. Without a unified government, targeted spending on improving infrastructure and proper international support, especially with regards to procedures, training, and equipment, Libya’s flood-preparedness is unlikely to improve in the near future. Furthermore, extreme weather events and bouts of heavier rainfall are likely to increase in the coming months and years due to global heating.
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Internationals discuss need for cohesive approach at Wilton Park; HoR, GNU and PC push ahead with their own efforts including a list of PM candidates
Incident: On 4 to 6 December, a high-level meeting of key international players involved in Libya was held at Wilton Park in the UK, in association with the UK Foreign Commonwealth and Development Office. Senior diplomats from the UK, the US, the EU, France, Italy, Germany, Egypt, Turkey, Qatar and the UAE participated, as well as Acting SRSG Stephanie Koury. On 6 December, UK Ambassador Martin Longden said there have been ‘valuable discussions at Wilton Park with international partners on how to better support the UN political process and aspirations of all Libyans.’ He said they ‘shared a genuine optimism and conviction that working together we can be better partners for Libya.’
NOC says 22 blocks to be targeted in upcoming bidding round as production rises just above 1.4 million bpd
Incident: This week, the Supreme Energy Council has said that 22 exploration blocks are to be included in upcoming bidding round. On 5 December, the Chairman of the National Oil Corporation (NOC), Farhat Bin Qadara, discussed a package of ambitious projects at the meeting of the Supreme Council for Energy and Water Affairs. Bin Qadara reportedly stressed that 22 blocks targeted for exploration will be offered in the 2024 public announcement round, and that the procedures for implementation are under way. The Council also reportedly discussed settling the status of the Ras Lanuf refinery, giving the greenlight to the NOC to purchase the share of UAE’s Trasta which is exiting the refinery.
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Internationals discuss need for cohesive approach at Wilton Park; HoR, GNU and PC push ahead with their own efforts including a list of PM candidates
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