The Libyan city of Derna is grappling with an impending environmental catastrophe caused by Cyclone Daniel, which struck Libya last month.
The crisis revolves around water contamination resulting from the mixing of sewage water and the decomposition of bodies.
Haider Al-Saadi, the director of the National Center for Emergency Disease Control, has declared a state of emergency for a full year in the flood-affected eastern regions. This decision comes as the number of cases of waterborne illnesses from non-potable water has surged to 150.
Currently, residents of Derna are advised not to rely on tap water for drinking and to instead use bottled water, according to the Libyan portal “Al-Wasat.”
Osama Al-Mislati, the head of the International Foundation for Environment and Sustainable Development, highlighted that water pollution in Derna initially occurs due to sewage tanks, with pollutants leaking approximately one meter each month.
However, during floods, groundwater becomes contaminated, posing a more severe form of pollution.
Al-Mislati categorized pollution into two types: chemical pollution caused by industrial chemicals and microbiological pollution originating from sewage water.
The latter is particularly dangerous as it provides a suitable environment for the growth of bacteria, viruses, and algae in certain cases.
Last month, the World Health Organization and the International Committee of the Red Cross dispelled common misconceptions that victims of natural disasters or armed conflicts pose a significant health threat to communities.
They emphasized that this is a rare occurrence and is mainly applicable to deaths caused by infectious diseases such as Ebola, Marburg virus, cholera, or in areas where infectious diseases are endemic.
Both organizations also warned of the risk of diarrheal diseases due to drinking water contaminated with feces but stressed that routine water treatment is generally sufficient to prevent waterborne diseases. Nonetheless, it is essential to avoid leaving corpses in close proximity to water sources used for drinking.
