Amnesty International has called on the Libyan authorities in Derna to lift restrictions on journalists and allow for the delivery of humanitarian aid to the flood-hit city.
The Libyan Arab Armed Forces, which currently controls eastern Libya, has been accused of implementing undue restrictions on journalists and arresting individuals who have criticized the authorities’ handling of the devastating floods.
The calls for lifting restrictions on journalists come in the wake of thousands of people protesting in Derna, demanding accountability for the loss of life resulting from the catastrophic flooding. The flood, which occurred on 11 September, resulted in the bursting of two dams in the city. The protesters not only called for support in the efforts of reconstruction and rehabilitation but also demanded the resignation of local and national politicians.
Amnesty has expressed concerns that the Libyan Arab Armed Forces’ response to the crisis has been characterized by repression and crackdowns on critics. Witnesses have reported the arrest of content creator Jamal El Gomati, who was reporting on the situation in Derna shortly after the floods. Gomati publicly accused officials of corruption and responsibility for the disaster.
These arrests, along with the increased restrictions on journalists, have raised fears that the Libyan authorities are employing tactics of repression instead of addressing the urgent needs of the affected communities.
Obtaining information about the situation in Derna has become increasingly difficult due to major disruptions to the internet and phone networks. Amnesty International has managed to speak to various individuals, including local residents, journalists, humanitarian workers, civil society activists, and doctors involved in the emergency response. Their testimonies suggest a highly alarming situation, with restrictions on the flow of information posing additional challenges to understanding the full extent of the crisis.
According to human rights activists who spoke with Amnesty, a group of armed individuals dressed in plainclothes, believed to be affiliated with the Libyan Arab Armed Forces’ Internal Security Agency, abducted El Gomati from his hometown of Shahhat in northeastern Libya on September 17th. He was forcibly disappeared for three days before being released following interventions by a prominent Libyan Arab Armed Forces commander.
Throughout the crisis, journalists have faced numerous challenges and restrictions imposed by affiliates of the Libyan Arab Armed Forces. Reports indicate that local officials stopped and questioned two Libyan journalists on September 14th before ordering them to leave the city. On September 16th, an activist from Derna was arrested after giving an interview about the situation in the city to a channel perceived as opposed to the Libyan Arab Armed Forces.
Following protests in Derna on September 18th, the Libyan Arab Army instructed journalists to evacuate the city but later reversed their decision while instructing remaining journalists not to approach rescue teams. Journalists consistently reported being followed by military media agents affiliated with the Libyan Arab Army and witnessed interpreters being asked by officials not to translate content critical of the authorities.
According to a spokesperson from the UN, on 19 September, a UN team was informed that they were not authorized to proceed to Derna. However, it was confirmed that rescuers and humanitarian workers already present in the city were allowed to continue their operations. Amnesty International has also received reports of aid reaching affected areas being delayed due to multiple checkpoints by the Libyan Arab Armed Forces.
In response, Amnesty is urging for rescue and rehabilitation efforts in all affected communities without any discrimination. They are emphasizing the importance of paying special attention to at-risk groups such as refugees, migrants, internally-displaced persons, and individuals facing various forms of discrimination.
