What is Happening in North Africa? Nearly 9,000 Dead in Libya and Morocco

In Derna, a coastal town in Northeast Libya, tragedy struck when Mediterranean Storm Daniel brought heavy rainfall that led to the collapse of two dams. Eyewitnesses noted that powerful flash floods surged down the mountainside, with towering walls of water demolishing everything in their way. 

According to Bloomberg, officials have recorded about 5,500 people dead, while another 10,000 have been recorded missing. In Libya, rescue operations are in progress with local and international relief workers wading through waist-deep waters, searching for survivors. Meanwhile, thousands of kilometres west in Morocco, another team of rescuers are slogging through the rubble of affected buildings in search of survivors following the tragic earthquake that struck the country on September 8. 

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In Morocco, the death toll from the earthquake has reportedly hit 2,946, with another 5,674 people injured. According to Seismologists, the 6.5 magnitude earthquake was the strongest to hit Morocco in 120 years. The earthquake which occurred in the High Atlas mountains destroyed buildings and, in some cases, small villages made of mud brick and adobe. 

These two tragedies in Libya and Morocco have orchestrated a peculiar political situation in both countries. It has drawn attention to the long-standing issue of neglect by both governments in those parts of the countries, which has persisted for many years if not decades. While foreign countries extend their help to both nations, internal political issues and tensions within the affected countries may hinder the recovery efforts.

Tensions had been rising even before the earthquake response, particularly because President Macron had been aiming for a closer relationship with Algeria. While the United States and Israel had recognized Western Sahara as Morocco’s territory, which is disputed by an Algeria-backed separatist group, Macron had chosen not to pick a side.

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In Libya, the impact of a long-lasting civil conflict over the past decade has been a major problem. The presence of rival governments in the eastern and western regions has resulted in limited investment in infrastructure for this oil-rich nation, leading to severe negative outcomes. However, as a sign of some coming together, both administrations promised to provide financial aid. Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, based in Tripoli, stated that the tragedy could be an opportunity to bring the country together.