By John Ikani
Hundreds of residents in the eastern Libyan city of Derna took to the streets on Monday to voice their discontent with local authorities.
The protest follows the tragic aftermath of heavy floods that struck the city, claiming the lives of thousands.
The demonstrators directed their criticisms towards Aguila Saleh, leader of eastern Libya’s parliament, and local officials whom they hold responsible for the calamity, a tragedy that, according to revised UN data, has resulted in the loss of nearly 4,000 lives.
Gathering outside the city’s primary mosque on Monday, the protesters issued a unified statement, demanding swift investigations into the disaster and legal actions against those accountable.
They also called for compensation, thorough examinations of the city’s finances, and the reconstruction of Derna, which has borne the brunt of this devastating event.
Eastern Libya operates under a parallel government, distinct from the UN-recognized administration centred in Libya’s capital, Tripoli.
Numerous experts and humanitarian organizations have contended that proper preventive measures could have averted the floods had the local authorities evacuated residents or at least effectively communicated the impending threat posed by Storm Daniel.
Neglect of the city’s dams, as noted by experts, ultimately led to their rupture and the catastrophic release of floodwaters.
In an unsettling turn of events, the protesters resorted to setting fire to the residence of Derna’s mayor, Abdulmenam al-Ghaithi.
In response, Mr. Ghaithi, along with other municipal officials from Derna, faced suspension by the Prime Minister of eastern Libya, Osama Hammad.
