Libya floods: Most deaths could have been avoided — UN

The United Nations has said most of the deaths in flash floods that tore through Libya could have been “avoided,” as relief workers struggle to deliver crucial aid in a humanitarian effort stifled by political divisions and debris from the disaster

The head of the UN’s World Meteorological Organization, Petteri Taalas said most of the deaths from the Libya floods could have been avoided.

More than 5,000 people have died and thousands more are feared missing after unprecedented rainfall flushed out entire cities in the North African nation last week.

The extreme weather conditions ruptured two dams in the country’s northeast, sending a deluge of water to the city of Derna, which has seen the worst of the devastation.

Taalas told journalists the country could have issued warnings.

“If there would have been a normally operating meteorological service, they would have issued the warnings and also the emergency management of this would have been able to carry out evacuations of the people and we would have avoided most of the human casualties.”

Libya has two rival governments, which has made it difficult to respond to disasters in a swift, coordinated manner.

Each government announced separate precautionary measures, as the recent storm that caused the flooding headed towards the country.

 

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