Those who know Libya and Cyrenaica (North-East Libya) in particular, will not be surprised by the disaster that unfolded when Storm Daniel destroyed the dams and caused the devastation that we are seeing on our screens.
Two hundred years ago, Derna was arguably the most important Ottoman port between Alexandria and Tripoli. As a vital trading post, it was the focus of America’s first overseas foray, when a small band of Marines and mercenaries, supported by the US Frigate, Argus captured the castle. However, when Mussolini ruled Libya, he developed the deep water harbour at Tobruk, which relegated Derna to a lesser role in the country.
Derna’s decline continued through Colonel Gadhafi’s regime, when it was populated by devout families, many of whom were independent of the authoritarian network that existed in Libya. As a result, the area was deprived of the oil-wealth and neglected by administrators. The problems were compounded after 2012, when Islamic State established a strong foothold and failed to complete essential maintenance tasks in the city and its surrounds.
The winter weather on the heights above Derna can be atrocious and the rugged wadi is very difficult to traverse. The soil is rich, but turns into a morass very quickly with torrential rain, which is why relief efforts are being hampered and progress has been so slow. It really does need a co-ordinated humanitarian assistance operation run by the United Nations to rescue the situation.
Thanks to Maher Abdussalam for this photograph
Rupert Wieloch 