Khaberni - Torrential floods that swept through areas in southern Libya caused the disruption of communication and internet services in the municipalities of Ghat and Tahala, while the National Unity Government issued urgent instructions to take immediate action to deal with the repercussions of the floods experienced by the two regions, resulting from heavy rainfall and valley flows.
Ghat municipality announced that the floods that swept the road linking Ghat with Tahala, at the extreme southwest of the country, caused damage to the optical fiber cable, leading to the disruption of communication and internet services in the area.
The municipality added that the teams belonging to Libya Telecommunications Company have started maintenance and repair work, despite the poor weather conditions and the difficulty of field conditions.
It mentioned that maintenance work is still ongoing to restore service as quickly as possible, expecting the return of communication and internet services as soon as the repair work is fully completed.
Urgent Government Directives
In this context, the head of the National Unity Government, Abdel Hamid Dbeibah, on Friday, issued urgent directives to the Ministry of Social Affairs and the General Water and Sewerage Company to take immediate action to deal with the repercussions of the floods that affected the municipalities of Ghat and Tahala.
The directives included accelerating the provision of basic needs and humanitarian aid for affected families, and providing social support and care for families that were forced to displace from their homes.
The directives also included mobilizing the capabilities and resources of the General Water and Sewerage Company to pump and drain the accumulated water in residential neighborhoods and affected areas, contributing to mitigating the effects of the crisis and maintaining public safety.
Dbeibah directed the Emergency and Support Medical Center to mobilize medical teams, ambulances, and necessary resources to provide urgent health services and supply needs and medical supplies for families and areas affected by the floods in Ghat and Tahala.
Since Wednesday, the municipalities of Ghat and Tahala have experienced heavy rains and floods, repeating a similar wave that the region experienced last year, causing significant material losses, especially since many of the homes in those towns are old and made of mud.
The Ministry of Health announced that, so far, no damages or human injuries have been recorded due to the heavy rains and floods in Tahala and Ghat.
The ministry said that medical convoys and ambulance teams continue to provide their health and humanitarian services, supporting health facilities with necessary medicines and medical supplies to ensure the continued provision of health care to citizens.
Relief Efforts
In the same context, the Libyan Red Crescent said that the municipalities of Ghat and Tahala are experiencing difficult humanitarian conditions due to the rains and floods, amid the displacement of families from the affected neighborhoods.
The association added that its volunteers intervened directly and immediately to deal with 250 displaced families in the Municipality of Tahala, and contributed to securing and relocating them to alternative homes.
Field hospitals have also been set up and equipped by volunteers of the Red Crescent, to ensure the provision of necessary health care to those affected.
On Friday evening, the municipal council in Ghat urged all citizens to exercise caution and cooperate with rescue and emergency teams, and to comply with issued guidelines to ensure public safety.
The Higher Committee for Emergencies announced, on Thursday, the elevation of readiness and preparedness in the municipalities of Ghat and Tahala and the surrounding cities and hospitals, in anticipation of any emergencies that may arise from the weather conditions and the accompanying heavy rains, as part of monitoring field situations and ensuring a quick response to any developments.
On September 10, 2023, the Mediterranean hurricane "Daniel", accompanied by heavy rains, caused widespread destruction in several areas in eastern Libya, including Benghazi, Al Bayda, Al Marj, Susa, and Derna.
The city of Derna was the most affected after the collapse of two dams that were holding back the floodwaters descending from the mountains into Wadi Derna, before the water surged with force and swept away everything in its path, resulting in the deaths of more than 4,000 people, according to official statistics.
