A split Libya impelled toward unity
Sudden tragedies like the catastrophic flooding in Libya this week uniquely reveal humanity鈥檚 ability to turn just as suddenly from apparently intractable conflict to unity and compassion.
For more than a decade, Libya has been riven by split government, warring factions, Islamist extremists, and foreign countries competing for resources and patronage. Now many of those same parties are joining in response to a disaster that has claimed at least 6,000 lives and displaced an estimated 20,000 others.
Assistance is pouring into the affected areas from towns across Libya as quickly as people can arrive. Airlifts of supplies and personnel are coming from countries and relief agencies across the Middle East. The United States and European Union have pledged additional support.
鈥淲e haven鈥檛 seen this type of unity for many years here in the country,鈥� Al Jazeera鈥檚 Malik Traina reported. 鈥淲e鈥檙e seeing also now volunteers and people giving whatever they can 鈥� water, food, medicine, whatever supplies they can.鈥�
The rapid influx of relief aid and rescue support from friend and foe may prove salutary beyond meeting the immediate humanitarian needs. It illustrates a capacity for shared concerns at a time when Libya鈥檚 two rival and at-times warring governments are exploring proposals for stitching their country back together under a transitional unity government.
Abdul Hamid al-Dbeibeh, the leader of Libya鈥檚 internationally recognized government based in Tripoli in the west, declared on Tuesday that the country鈥檚 divisions 鈥渨ill not prevent us from helping you, and we will not fail to perform our duties toward you.鈥� His government has earmarked millions of dollars in recovery funds and has begun airlifting emergency resources to the east, where the Mediterranean city of Derna and dozens of smaller flood-affected coastal towns fall under Libya鈥檚 rival administration.
His goodwill drew a healing reply. 鈥淲e are one country,鈥� said Abdulhadi Lhweej, foreign minister of the eastern government. 鈥淲e welcome them.鈥�
The disaster underscores the cost of Libya鈥檚 divided governance. When the weekend storm dropped as much as 9 1/2 inches of rain in under 24 hours, it exposed the country鈥檚 lack of emergency preparedness and the state of its neglected infrastructure. Two dams south of Derna failed. More than 20% of the city washed away in the wall of water. Residents report having had little or no warning.聽
Now the unity and compassion flowing into Derna from across Libya opens a new opportunity for national renewal. 鈥淕iven that Libya has been divided into two rival administrations in the east and west鈥� for almost a decade, wrote Sansom Milton, a professor at Qatar鈥檚 Doha Institute for Graduate Studies, in Middle East Eye today, 鈥渢his unity in the face of disaster could later be capitalised ... to foster reconciliation.鈥� That requires 鈥渨ork towards restoring public trust.鈥�
