Toll from devastating floods in Libyan city passes 5,100 dead, authorities struggle to get in aid

Toll from devastating floods in Libyan city passes 5,100 dead, authorities struggle to get in aid
Rescue teams were working day and night to recover many other bodies scattered in the streets and under the rubble in Derna. (Reuters)
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Updated 13 September 2023
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Toll from devastating floods in Libyan city passes 5,100 dead, authorities struggle to get in aid

Toll from devastating floods in Libyan city passes 5,100 dead, authorities struggle to get in aid
  • Authorities were still struggling to get aid to the Mediterranean coastal city of Derna after Sunday night’s deluge washed away most access roads
  • “Wherever you go, you find dead men, women, and children,” Emad Al-Falah, an aid worker from Benghazi, said

DERNA, Libya: Search teams combed streets, wrecked buildings and even the sea for bodies in a devastated eastern Libyan city on Wednesday, where authorities said massive flooding had killed at least 5,100 people, with the toll expected to rise further.
Authorities were still struggling to get aid to the Mediterranean coastal city of Derna after Sunday night’s deluge washed away most access roads. Aid workers who managed to reach the city described devastation in its center, with thousands still missing and tens of thousands left homeless.
“Bodies are everywhere, inside houses, in the streets, at sea. Wherever you go, you find dead men, women, and children,” Emad Al-Falah, an aid worker from Benghazi, said over the phone from Derna. “Entire families were lost.”
Mediterranean storm Daniel caused deadly flooding in many towns of eastern Libya on Sunday, but the worst-hit was Derna. Two dams outside in the mountains above the city collapsed, sending floodwaters washing down the Wadi Derna river and through the city center, sweeping away entire city blocks. Waves rose as high as 7 meters (23 feet), Yann Fridez, head of the delegation of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Libya, told broadcaster France24.
Mohammed Derna, a teacher in the city, said he, his family and neighbors rushed to the roof of their apartment building, stunned at the volume of water rushing by. It reached the second story of many buildings, he said. They watched people below, including women and children being washed away.
“They were screaming, help, help,” he said over the phone from a field hospital in Derna. “It was like a Hollywood horror movie.”
Derna lies on a narrow coastal plain on the Mediterranean Sea, under steep mountains running along the coast. Only two roads from the south remain usable, and they involve a long, winding route through the mountains.
Aid teams with some supplies managed to get in that way, while authorities in eastern Libya worked Wednesday to repair the faster coastal access routes.
Otherwise, local emergency workers were relying on whatever equipment they already had on hand. Search teams combed shattered apartment buildings and retrieved the dead floating offshore in the Mediterranean Sea, Al-Falah said. Collapsed bridges the river split the city center, further hampering movement.
Ossama Ali, a spokesman for the Ambulance and Emergency Center in eastern Libya, said at least 5,100 deaths were recorded in Derna, along with around 100 others elsewhere in eastern Libya. More than 7,000 people were injured in the city, most receiving treatment in field hospitals that authorities and aid agencies set up, he told The Associated Press by phone Wednesday.
The number of deaths is likely to increase since teams are still collecting bodies from the streets, buildings and the sea, he said. At least 9,000 remain missing, but that number could drop as communications are restored, Ali said.
At least 30,000 people in Derna were displaced by the flooding, the UN’s International Organization for Migration said, adding that the city remained almost inaccessible for humanitarian aid workers.
The startling devastation pointed to the storm’s intensity, but also Libya’s vulnerability. The country is divided by rival governments, one in the east, the other in the west, and the result has been neglect of infrastructure in many areas.
“This is a disaster in every sense of the word,” a wailing survivor who lost 11 members of his family told a local television station as a group of rescuers tried to calm him. The television station did not identify the survivor.
Ahmed Abdalla, a survivor who joined the search and rescue effort, said they were putting bodies in the yard of a local hospital before taking them for burial in mass graves at Derna’s sole intact cemetery.
“The situation is indescribable. Entire families dead in this disaster. Some were washed away to the sea,” Abdalla said by phone from Derna.
Bulldozers worked over the past two days to fix and clear roads to allow the delivery of humanitarian aid and heavy equipment. Derna is 250 kilometers (150 miles) east of Benghazi, where international aid started to arrive on Tuesday.
Libya’s neighbors, Egypt, Algeria and Tunisia, as well as Turkiye and the United Arab Emirates, sent rescue teams and aid. President Joe Biden also said the United States is sending emergency funds to relief organizations and coordinating with the Libyan authorities and the United Nations to provide additional support.
Mohammed Abu-Lamousha, a spokesman for the eastern Libyan interior ministry, on Tuesday put the death tally in Derna at more than 5,300, according to the state-run news agency. Dozens of others were reported dead in other towns in eastern Libya, he said.
Authorities have transferred hundreds of bodies to morgues in nearby towns. More than 300, including 84 Egyptians, were brought to the morgue in the city of Tobruk, 169 kilometers (105 miles) east of Derna, the local Medical Center reported.
The victims’ lists reflected how Libya, despite its turmoil, was always a magnet for workers from around the region because of its oil industry.
More than 70 of Derna’s dead all hailed from a single southern Egyptian village, el-Sharif. On Wednesday morning, hundreds attended a mass funeral in the village for some of their repatriated bodies. Another funeral for four others was held in a town in the northern Nile Delta.
Among the dead were the family of Saleh Sariyeh, a Palestinian originally from the Ein el-Hilweh refugee camp in Lebanon who had lived in Derna for decades. The 60-year-old, his wife and two daughters were all killed when their home in Derna was washed away, his nephew Mohammed Sariyeh told the AP.
The four were buried in Derna. Because of ongoing gunbattles in Ein el-Hilweh, the family there could not hold a gathering to receive condolences from friends and neighbors, Mohammed said.
Derna, about 900 kilometers (560 miles) east of the capital, Tripoli, is controlled by the forces of powerful military commander Khalifa Haftar, who is allied with the eastern Libyan government. The rival government in western Libya, based in Tripoli, is allied with other armed groups.
Derna was once a hub for extremist groups in the years of chaos that followed the NATO-backed uprising that toppled and killed longtime dictator Muammar Qaddafi in 2011.


Thousands of Ferrari fans gather at Jeddah circuit

Thousands of Ferrari fans gather at Jeddah circuit
Updated 24 min 48 sec ago
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Thousands of Ferrari fans gather at Jeddah circuit

Thousands of Ferrari fans gather at Jeddah circuit
  • Ferrari Festival combines sporting and entertainment elements to entertain fans of all ages

JEDDAH: Thousands of enthusiasts flocked to Jeddah circuit on Tuesday and Wednesday for the annual Ferrari Festival, which featured various activities, entertainment and displays. 

The Ferrari Festival combines sporting and entertainment elements to entertain fans of all ages. Apart from the action on the circuit, there was plenty of off-circuit entertainment, such as live music performances, games and an exhibition of modern and classic Ferraris.

The festival celebrated the spirit of motoring and provided enthusiasts with an opportunity to see some of the world’s most beautiful and exclusive sports cars in a safe and secure setting.

On track, with more than 100 cars, Ferrari owners displayed the performance characteristics of their vehicles to the fullest in track-day sessions, allowing fans to make the most of the experience and to take photos. 

Faris Fatani, 22, was spotted posing with the Ferraris along with his brother and their friend.

“We came to Jeddah circuit with our family and friends just for this Ferrari show,” he told Arab News. “We love these cars and they look even more beautiful parked all in a row. This is something that we will not forget.”

Ferrari-fan Saeed Al-Amoudi brought along his family, who were busy taking photographs with their mobiles.

He said: “This is a great event, and I am enjoying the amazing cars. It’s really a great feeling to be out here with the Ferraris.”

“It is a wonderful opportunity to see Ferraris of all ages, from the earliest road cars through to the very latest in one place,” said Tariq Al-Faratani, a Lebanese resident.

During the two-day festival, Ferrari enthusiasts were able to see many Formula 1 drivers, including the Ferrari F1 star drivers, Charles Leclerc and Carlos Sainz, who made their appearance alongside members of Ferrari’s WEC HypercarDriving Roster, including former F1 driver Antonio Giovinazzi, Alessandro Pier Guidi and James Calado.

Prince Abdulaziz bin Turki Al-Faisal, Saudi minister of sport, and Prince Khalid bin Sultan Al-Abdullah Al-Faisal, chairman of the board of directors of the Saudi Motor and Motorcycle Federation and the Saudi Motor Sports Company — who both have a passion for car racing and previously competed in the series, winning numerous races and championships with the Al-Faisal team — were among the Ferrari enthusiasts.

Prince Khalid told the media: “We are pleased to welcome the Ferrari Festival in Jeddah to celebrate this famous and very beloved brand in the Kingdom and around the world,” he said. “We also begin the countdown to the fourth consecutive weekend of Formula 1 racing in Jeddah.”


Pakistan applauds operationalization of $575 million ‘loss and damage’ fund at COP28 in Dubai

Pakistan applauds operationalization of $575 million ‘loss and damage’ fund at COP28 in Dubai
Updated 33 min 37 sec ago
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Pakistan applauds operationalization of $575 million ‘loss and damage’ fund at COP28 in Dubai

Pakistan applauds operationalization of $575 million ‘loss and damage’ fund at COP28 in Dubai
  • At UN climate talks in Dubai, nearly 200 nations agreed to launch the fund to support countries hit by global warming 
  • The occasion followed Pakistan’s crucial role at COP27 in Egypt, where it advocated for the establishment of the fund 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday applauded a swift operationalization of $575 million for a global fund for climate-related “loss and damage” for vulnerable nations on the opening day of the United Nations (UN) Climate Change Conference, or COP28, the Pakistani climate change ministry said. 

Nearly 200 nations agreed Thursday to launch a fund to support countries hit by global warming, in a historic moment at the start of UN climate talks in the oil-rich UAE. The announcement came as the Emirati host of the COP28 talks declared that fossil fuels must be part of any climate deal negotiated over the next two weeks. 

The talks in Dubai come at a pivotal moment for the planet, with emissions still rising and the UN on Thursday declaring 2023 on track to become the hottest year in human history. The formal establishment of the loss and damage fund, long sought by climate-vulnerable nations, provided an early win at COP28, where sharp divisions over the phasing out of fossil fuels were immediately apparent. 

The momentous occasion followed Pakistan’s crucial role at COP27 in Egypt, where, as the chair of the G77 and China group, it advocated for the establishment of the fund. Over the past one year, the South Asian country actively engaged as a member of the transitional committee responsible for finalizing recommendations for the fund’s operationalization. 

“Pakistan applauds the historic achievement at COP28 (30 Nov to 12 Dec 2023) as the Loss and Damage Fund sees swift operationalization, with an astounding USD 575 million pledged within the first hour of the conference’s opening session,” the Pakistani climate change ministry said in a statement. 

“The pledge includes USD 225 million committed by European Union.” 

The Pakistani delegation also expressed gratitude for the global community’s rapid response, recognizing the fund’s significance in mitigating climate-related challenges, especially for nations facing vulnerabilities. 

“While the initial pledges amount to a significant sum of USD 575 million, it is recognized that these contributions fall short in addressing the immense challenges faced by climate-vulnerable nations. The call to action resonates with the understanding that additional financial support is imperative to effectively mitigate and manage the aftermath of climate-related disasters,” the statement read. 

“Pakistan reaffirms its dedication to actively engaging and leading developing countries on this critical issue. The country remains committed to collaborative efforts with the global community to ensure the effective implementation and utilization of the Loss and Damage Fund.” 

Leaders at COP28 have been urged to move more quickly to a clean energy future and make deeper cuts to emissions, with the world off-track to keep global temperature rises below agreed levels. A central focus of the conference will be a stocktake of the world’s limited progress on curbing global warming, which requires an official response at these talks. 

Double the size of last year’s COP27, the conference is billed as the largest ever with 97,000 people, including Britain’s King Charles III and some 180 other heads of state and government expected to attend. The UN and hosts the UAE say the talks will be the most important since Paris in 2015, and climate finance for poorer nations has been a key agenda item. 


Argentinian ambassador bids farewell to Kingdom

Argentinian ambassador bids farewell to Kingdom
Updated 33 min 12 sec ago
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Argentinian ambassador bids farewell to Kingdom

Argentinian ambassador bids farewell to Kingdom
  • Former oil company boss Guillermo Nielsen to leave after 2 years
  • Says visiting ‘fantastic’ AlUla among his fondest memories

RIYADH: After two years as Argentine ambassador to Saudi Arabia, Guillermo Nielsen will bid farewell to the Kingdom on Sunday. Before packing his bags, he spoke to Arab News about his time in the country.

When asked about his fondest experiences, the envoy said it was difficult to narrow it down to just one.

“It’s difficult to choose one in general but I would say what I found is really a connection of things,” he said.

“I would like to stress that when you get to Riyadh and you look at the people, you look at the way people dress, the way women dress, you see differences, and this is very different from Argentina, this is totally different.

“But through time and through interaction you realize that we have more in common than we think. Maybe that’s because we have Arab roots.”

Nielsen said he found many similarities between the Arabic and Argentinian cultures.

“There are many, many more things in common and especially the importance of the family, the way we gather, the way we live, the relationship within the family.

“Those are the things you only realize with time and talking and interacting with Saudi friends and Saudi people.”

Nielsen said that he had not traveled as much as he would have liked during his time in the Kingdom, though he did visit Jeddah, Khobar and AlUla.

“I couldn’t miss AlUla, which was a fantastic, fantastic place.”

The ambassador also explained how he came to get the job of his country’s envoy to the Kingdom, saying an old friend with whom he played polo planted the idea of living in Saudi Arabia in his mind.

“He started talking about Vision 2030 and how things are going in Saudi Arabia. ‘You have to come and see,’ he told me.

“At the time I was head of YPF, the largest oil and gas company in Argentina. I left the presidency and was offered an embassy in Europe. And much to the surprise of our president and minister of foreign affairs, I said I didn’t want to go to Europe, I wanted to go to Saudi Arabia.”

Nielsen said that during his time as ambassador he worked mostly on the economic and cultural side of relations.

On the trade side, he said Argentina exported beef and alfalfa to the Kingdom — the latter is used to feed Saudi dairy cows — while the two nations were also working together in the field of information technology.

One of the main areas of concern for the outgoing ambassador is food security.

“Food security is a big issue,” he said. “It has shown to be very important with the problems we had in Ukraine with the Russian invasion.

“I think that’s a major subject we have to tackle together and a major area of cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Argentina.”


Korean president congratulates crown prince on Riyadh Expo 2030 selection

Korean president congratulates crown prince on Riyadh Expo 2030 selection
Updated 54 min 38 sec ago
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Korean president congratulates crown prince on Riyadh Expo 2030 selection

Korean president congratulates crown prince on Riyadh Expo 2030 selection
  • Riyadh will host the expo after defeating challenges from South Korea's Busan and Italy's Rome

RIYADH: Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman received a phone call on Thursday from the President of the Republic of Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol, Saudi Press Agency reported.

During the call, Yoon congratulated the crown prince on Saudi Arabia's selection as host of the World Expo 2030 in Riyadh, which was announced on Tuesday.

Prince Mohammed thanked Yoon for his congratulations.

Riyadh will host the expo after defeating challenges from South Korea’s Busan and Italy’s capital Rome for the prestigious event.

The Saudi capital was picked by a majority of 119 out of 165 votes by the member states of the Paris-based Bureau International des Expositions.


Lebanese rush to plant crops as calm prevails in south

Lebanese rush to plant crops as calm prevails in south
Updated 30 November 2023
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Lebanese rush to plant crops as calm prevails in south

Lebanese rush to plant crops as calm prevails in south
  • “I work from this, I produce from this, I live from this,” Zaynab Suweidan said as she sowed wheat in the village of Yater
  • The crops should have been planted at the start of November

YATER, Lebanon: Villagers who live off the land in south Lebanon are rushing to sow their crops, making up for lost time after weeks of hostilities with Israel forced them to miss out on the start of the planting season.
“I work from this, I produce from this, I live from this,” Zaynab Suweidan said as she sowed wheat in the village of Yater, in an area hit by Israeli strikes during heavy exchanges of fire with Lebanon’s Hezbollah.
After enduring its worst violence since a 2006 war, the area has been largely calm since Friday, when Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas agreed a temporary truce to the conflict they have been waging some 200km (120 miles) away in and around Gaza.
That war, which erupted on Oct. 7, quickly spilled into Lebanon, with the Iran-backed Hezbollah rocketing Israeli positions at the border and Israel launching air and artillery strikes in response.
Israel and Hamas agreed to extend the truce by one day on Thursday, bringing a seventh day of respite.
As a drone buzzed in the sky above her, Suweidan said she had stayed in her home throughout the hostilities even after it sustained some damage.
“Shelling has happened around us and planes launched two strikes near us, and we stayed in our house and we didn’t leave. We want to stay steadfast,” she said.
The crops should have been planted at the start of November, but she hoped the delay would not affect the yield: “Through God’s power, everything will be fine.”
Farming their land has become even more important for many in Lebanon since the economy there collapsed in a devastating financial meltdown more than four years ago.
Mousa Kawrani, a 55-year-old father of four who was planting wheat, beans and peas, said people needed to farm because they could not afford to buy everything they needed.
“We must farm. We cannot remain without farming.”