The eastern-based Libyan government (not recognised internationally) called on Friday for an international conference for the reconstruction of Derna and the rest of the eastern areas affected by the Storm Daniel floods.
The call came in an official announcement by the eastern-based Libyan Prime Minister / Chairman of the Supreme Committee for Emergency and Rapid Response, Osama Hamad, of his government’s intention to organize an international reconstruction conference on the 10th of October.
Hamad called on the International Monetary Fund, the World Bank, active countries in the world and regional countries to participate in the activities of the conference that will be held in the city of Derna. He called on them to contribute to developing visions for the reconstruction of the city and the affected areas, and to participate in developing the appropriate mechanisms technically and financially for construction work and building roads and dams that protect the cities from any natural disasters.
Reconstruction will not be easy, Libya lacks the experience
For his part, the Chairman of the Reconstruction and Stabilization Committee, Hatem Al-Araibi, told Libya Herald that reconstruction in Derna and the affected areas in the Jabal Al-Akhdar (the eastern Green Mountains) will not be easy due to the large extent of destruction in infrastructure, housing, health, educational and other service facilities. Additionally, he stated that there is a lack of sufficient experience among the people and the executive bodies in Libya to address the negative effects resulting from this destruction, which had not occurred in Libya previously.
Benefit from international experience
Al-Araibi sees the importance of establishing an international conference for reconstruction to benefit from previous international experiences in dealing with the effects resulting from natural disasters, as well as to transfer the most rapid and effective methods in rebuilding areas destroyed by floods or earthquakes around the world.
Libya has the money, but not the know-how
Al-Araibi noted Libya’s ability in financial terms to provide the necessary financial resources for reconstruction but lacked the technical advice and how to manage these resources in implementing reconstruction plans. He said it has an urgent need to transfer expertise and previous experiences related to the reconstruction of areas that were largely destroyed by floods and torrents around the world.
The eastern-based Prime Minister Hamad’s invitation for an international reconstruction conference stated that his government “took all necessary measures to address the devastating repercussions that resulted from Storm Daniel,” which resulted in the death of many victims and destroyed the city’s infrastructure and other neighbouring areas.
Tripoli government supports an international reconstruction conference too
For his part, Suhail Bushiha, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy and Trade in the Tripoli government told Libya Herald, that holding an international conference on the reconstruction of the city of Derna and the affected areas is a good step on the way to restoring life normally and re-preparing it for decent living.
Bushiha stressed that the Tripoli Ministry of Economy supports all efforts aimed at reconstructing Derna and the affected villages without regard to the state of political division occurring in the country. He said his ministry is keen to participate in this conference by contributing to inviting all international institutions and organizations to participate and attend effectively, with the provision of the necessary advice in cooperation with local consulting bodies that have the technical capacity in the areas of urban and urban planning and development in cooperation with specialized international consulting bodies.
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EU Copernicus satellite images of Flood Daniel hit Libya released (libyaherald.com)
Conflicting news over ending of Search and Rescue for survivors in Derna (libyaherald.com)
UNSG Guterres calls for opening of investigations into collapse of Derna dams (libyaherald.com)
Derna update: International aid continues to arrive, infrastructure damage update (libyaherald.com)
Latest UN satellite imagery shows extent of Storm Daniel destruction in Derna (libyaherald.com)
More than 5,300 dead and 10,000 missing in Derna disaster (libyaherald.com)
More than 2,000 dead and thousands missing after Storm Daniel hit eastern Libya (libyaherald.com)
Libya hit by storm Daniel with eastern region suffering worse damage (libyaherald.com)
