Climate Chaos: The Unseen Struggles of Libya's Environmental Exodus
Often, in the silent hours of the night, echoes of distress pierce the air. Khadijah, a 60-year-old survivor from flood-ravaged Libya, recalls the haunting screams. It could be her neighbor, clad in an abaya since the deadly floods struck on September 10, seeking refuge in the belief that the flowing robe could shield her from impending disaster.
Khadijah and thousands like her now find themselves in government schools after their homes were swallowed by the floods, becoming inadvertent refugees of a climate crisis. This is not the first time Derna, a city that once offered refuge to migrants from neighboring nations, faces adversity. But this time, it's different, more humiliating, as described by Khadijah, who has weathered wars and disasters.
A Humanitarian Crisis Unveiled: Derna's Climate Exodus
The recent calamity in Derna was fueled by a lethal combination of climate change and ailing infrastructure. Storm Daniel, amplified by human-induced climate change, wreaked havoc, with failing dams aggravating the disaster. Benjamin Freedman, an analyst at the Middle East Institute, emphasizes the critical role infrastructure plays in climate displacement, creating a perfect storm of human suffering.
While flash floods forced immediate evacuation, many forced to leave their lands due to environmental reasons do so gradually, amidst "slow-onset conditions" like multi-year droughts, explains Aimee-Noel Mbiyozo, a senior research consultant.
The Unseen Faces of Climate Migration
Derna, once home to over 8,000 refugees, a melting pot of different nationalities, now grapples with the aftermath of the storm. Michela Pugliese, a migration researcher, notes that more than 230,000 refugees and migrants were living in eastern Libya, the hardest-hit region, prior to the disaster. The majority arrived from neighboring countries like Chad, Egypt, Niger, Nigeria, and Sudan, seeking a haven.
However, the term "climate refugees" holds no legal standing under international law, making it challenging to quantify the number of displaced individuals. Experts argue that as climate disasters become more frequent, a system is urgently needed to identify and protect those fleeing them.
Legal Void and Local Impact
International law fails to recognize climate refugees, complicating the situation for those seeking asylum. Mbiyozo points out that people rarely identify climate change as the sole reason for their displacement, making it difficult to address their unique needs.
Despite the reluctance of Western countries to accept new categories of refugees, the majority of climate-linked movements stay local, with people relocating from rural areas to urban centers. The recent floods in Libya displaced around 40,000 people, creating a complex web of displacement.
The Road Ahead
As Derna struggles with its humanitarian response, Khadijah and others grapple with the harsh reality of their current situation. With an uncertain future, the displaced face a challenging journey ahead, seeking not just shelter but acknowledgment of their unique predicament in the face of climate chaos.
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