DERNA, LIBYA – The once thriving city of Derna remains devastated after the country’s catastrophic calamity, as aid workers work amid the aftermath to identify missing victims. The unforgiving death toll climbs as more bodies are discovered in the wake of the disaster.

Workers on the front line, garbed in safety masks and protective gear, cut through the devastating scene at a local hospital parking lot, scrutinizing the remains of a man found washed up on the shore after a week spent adrift in the sea. The process of identifying the deceased can be as challenging as it is harrowing, yet its importance cannot be overstated as authorities attempt to provide closure for bereaved families.

The scale of the calamity has been a significant blow to the Eastern Libyan city, with both the local government and international bodies, including the United Nations, working around the clock. Over 10,000 people are declared missing, according to the UN’s Office for the Co-Ordination of Humanitarian Affairs, and the Red Crescent continues to tally up the numbers.

Eye witnesses such as Mohammed Miftah share horrifying recalls of the event. The search for his missing family has been fruitless, their home lost to the disastrous flood. From Miftah’s account, the intensity of the event was such that vehicles were carried off by the floodwater, trapping people in their homes as their neighbours vanished into the dark.

International aid is mounting as relief teams from France, Italy, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia have committed to aiding in the relief process. However, coordination between Libya’s internationally recognized government in Tripoli and the uncertified eastern Libyan government appears to be a challenge, as noted by Abdullah Bathily, the Head of the UN’s International Support Mission in Libya.

Though the catastrophe is an unprecedented setback, the resilience of the Libyan people matches the scale of the disaster. The locals’ spirited efforts continue to shine through the debris and wreckage, offering solace to survivors amidst the devastation. From distributions of clothing to vats of fuel, locals partake in extensive efforts to aid their fellow citizens in their time of crisis.

Taunted by the dread of the unknown, the absence of over 10,000 people weighs heavily on the hearts of Libyans. The International Organization of Migration reports that the disaster displaced around 38,000 people in eastern Libya, with Derna alone accounting for 30,000 of the displaced. As the cleanup continues, the survivors are left to rebuild their lives, even while coping with the unfathomable loss.