In
the eastern Libyan city of Derna, a
catastrophic flood has claimed at least 3,900
lives, with thousands more still missing. The flood was
made worse by the failure of two poorly maintained dams,
leading to protests and widespread public outrage
against negligent officials. This is not
just a natural disaster; it's a catastrophic failure of
governance. Since 2014, Libya has been
divided between two rival governments in the east and
west. Both governments have pledged to help with rescue
efforts in the flood-affected areas, but they
have never successfully collaborated
before.
Sign now to urge the rival
Libyan governments to set aside their differences and
cooperate to effectively manage the Derna flood
crisis!
Just
last year, the governments were warned about the area's
vulnerability to flooding disasters. A
scientific paper published last year even called for
urgent maintenance of the dams, but nothing
happened. Given the fractured state of
governance in Libya, cooperation between the rival
governments is essential for effectively managing this
crisis and preventing future disasters. By
signing this petition, you send a strong message to both
of Libya's rival governments and the international
community at large: The people of Derna, and the
thousands who have lost their lives, deserve justice,
support, and effective governance through
cooperation.
