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The environmental dimensions of Libya’s flood disaster

The environmental dimensions of Libya’s flood disaster (ceobs)

The Storm Daniel medicane made landfall in Libya on 10th September, after causing record-breaking rainfall and flooding in Greece. Winds of 70-80 km/h damaged infrastructure and generated dust storms, whilst record rainfall of between 150-240 mm caused flash flooding in the wadis (seasonal rivers) of the Jebel Akhdar plateau. A weather system like Storm Daniel was unprecedented in Libya. However, climate change makes such an event 50 times more likely, and up to 50% more intense. It is likely that warmer sea surface temperatures in the Mediterranean played a role, this year they were 2-3°C above average. There has been relatively little attention on the environmental consequences of the disaster.

This report examines the main environmental considerations in the short and long-term, both to help inform the humanitarian response and later recovery. It also reflects on how years of conflict and insecurity in Libya contributed to the disaster.

Contents

Four short-term environmental considerations

1. Water and sanitation

2. Safety of environmental infrastructure 

3. Pollution

4. Impact on marine and coastal biodiversity

The role of the conflict in the disaster

Infrastructure neglect

Disaster preparedness and response

Four long-term environmental considerations

1. Unexploded ordnance

2. Solid waste management

3. Displacement and vulnerability 

4. Disaster warning and adaptation 

Download the report here

 

This description was excerpted from ceobs.org

 

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