Metro

Over 5,300 killed as flood ravages Libya

Published

1 year ago

September 13, 2023

Libya’s Minister of Civil Aviation, Hichem Abu Chkiouat, has confirmed that more 5,300 people have been killed following massive flooding that ravaged several cities including Derna, Benghazi, and Al-Bayda, Sousse and Al-Marj, on Monday.

The flood, emanating from a tsunami-like disaster codenamed Storm Daniel, had swept through several areas in eastern Libya, leaving thousands dead and missing, as well as causing major infrastructure damage.

The substantial storm, according to emergency services officials, had hit the country on Sunday, leading to torrential rains which had caused the disaster before sweeping across the eastern provinces on Monday and Tuesday, wreaking untold havoc in its wake.

A statement on Wednesday by the spokesman for the Ministry of the Interior, Tariq Al-Kharaz, said the death toll of Storm Daniel had reached 5,200 people in Derna alone, with 1,300 bodies out of that number buried after the families had identified them, while there were entire families who died.

Al-Kharaz said the number of bodies that had not been identified was massive and couldn’t be buried at present because of the lack of resources and support. They expect the death toll from the floods in Derna to rise to more than 10,000 people, he said.

He added that there were still many unrecovered bodies, as specialized rescue teams from Türkiye, the United Arab Emirates, and Egypt were working to recover the bodies that had been swept into the sea by the torrents.

On Monday, Prime Minister Abdul Hamid Dbeibah, during an emergency Cabinet session, declared a three-day mourning period, directing all “officials and ministers without exception to assess the conditions in the eastern region.”

He also declared all the municipalities that were hit by Storm Daniel as disaster areas.

Meanwhile, emergency services in Libya are continuing to retrieve the dead amid the devastation caused by the widespread flooding in the country.

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Metro

Zambia: Expert warns of food security threat due to climate change

Published

1 hour ago

December 22, 2024

Isaac Dachen

A prominent Zambian climate-smart agriculture expert, Oliver Bulaya, has warned of a collapse of the county’s agricultural sector with a potential threat to food security due to the worsening impact of climate change.

Bulaya, who bared his mind in an interview with Zambia Monitor on Friday, warned that ignoring the crisis could lead to severe disruptions in the country’s food supply and economy.

“Unless concerted efforts are made, the country will continue facing dire consequences from climate change,” the expert noted.

He lamented a growing trend of farmers relocating to regions experiencing above-normal rainfall, such as the northern block, as they struggle with losses caused by climate variability.

Bulaya emphasized that the once-reliable rainfall areas like North-Western Zambia are now experiencing lower precipitation, as seen during the 2023/2024 farming season and cautioned that poor farming practices, which had already strained the Southern region, could lead to similar challenges in other parts of the country if proactive measures were not implemented.

Metro

Outrage over murder of Nigerian beaten to death by South Africans inside estate security office

Published

6 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Isaac Dachen

The Nigerian community, under the auspices of Nigerian Citizens Association in South Africa (NICASA), has raised the alarm over the murder of a 37-year-old Nigerian, Julius Chukwunta, who was beaten to death by four South Africans inside an estate.

According to the association, Chukwunta, a native of Aninri Local Government Area in Enugu State, was reportedly attacked on Saturday, December 7, while driving to his residence in Midrand Protea Estate.

In a statement issued on Saturday by the President-General of NICASA, Dr Frank Onyekwelu, Chukwunta was blocked by the four men while approaching his residence.

Onyekwelu stated that information available to the association noted that after attempting to pass through, Chukwunta was met with resistance by the assailants, prompting him to seek help at the security office of the estate.

“At that moment, the four men allegedly attacked him, leaving him severely injured with a head wound,” the PG said.

“His female companion, who was sitting in the car, rushed to the security office and discovered him bleeding on the ground.

“In spite of attempts to call for help, the security office and residents did not assist in calling the police or an ambulance.

“After an hour, Chukwunta’s partner contacted her father, who, along with other family members, took him to Tembisa General Hospital.

“Chukwunta was placed on life support but later succumbed to his injuries and died at the Tembisa General Hospital on December 10, 2024.”

Onyekwelu also confirmed that the case was reported to the police by Chukwunta’s partner at the Midrand Police Station and was registered under file number 262/12/2024.

The NICASA President said the four suspects, aged 20, 24, 27, and 28, were arrested, and the case was presented in Alexandra Magistrate Court on December 13, 2024, where they were charged with murder.

“The court proceedings on December 18, 2024, saw three of the suspects granted bail of R10,000 each, while the fourth had not yet applied for bail. The case was adjourned to February 3, 2025.”

Onyekwelu however, expressed disappointment at the proceedings, wondering why three of the suspects were released on bail and vowed that the Nigerian community would continue to demand justice for Chukwunta and support his family.

He emphasised that the community would not rest until justice was served and the value of Nigerian lives was upheld in South Africa.