Libyan Official Refutes Blame for Flood Disaster
An official in eastern Libya has denied allegations that many of those killed in devastating floods last weekend were told to stay in their homes.
Othman Abdul Jalil, a spokesperson for the Benghazi based government, told the BBC that soldiers warned people in the city of Derna to flee.
He denied that people were told not to evacuate, but conceded some may have felt the threat was exaggerated.
Meanwhile, BBC teams in Derna say aid agencies are yet to arrive at the city.
A spokesperson for one organisation said that trying to organise aid operations in the country was “a nightmare”.
Making the situation even more complicated – the floods have destroyed crucial infrastructure like roads and telecommunication systems.
The death toll varies widely, from around 6,000 up to 11,000. With many more thousands still missing, Derna’s mayor has warned that the total could reach 20,000.
The BBC has been told that some victims’ bodies have washed ashore more than 100km (60 miles) from Derna, after they were swept out to sea.
A spokesperson for the United Nations humanitarian office, Jens Laerke, told the BBC that there are still survivors and dead bodies under the rubble, and that it will be some time before they know the true number of casualties.
“We are trying to not to have a second disaster there. It is critical to prevent a health crisis, to provide shelter, clean water and food,” he said.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has asked disaster workers to stop doing this, because a hasty burial in mass graves can lead to long-lasting mental distress for grieving family members.
Thousands of people were killed when two dams burst in the wake of Storm Daniel on Sunday, washing whole neighbourhoods into the Mediterranean Sea.
Survivors have described terrifying escapes and people being swept away in front of their eyes.
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