2019–20 European windstorm season

What's happening on Lampedusa – and what Europe needs to do now to manage migration

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星期三, 十月 4, 2023

This was a record-breaking figure for an island of around 6,000 inhabitants.

Key Points:

This was a record-breaking figure for an island of around 6,000 inhabitants.
Migrants are kept separate from the local population and identified before being transferred to Sicily or other centres in Italy.
According to InfoMigrants, more than 84,300 people arrived in Italy by sea between 1 January and 23 July, an increase of 144% on 2022.

Who is arriving at Lampedusa?

On board the boats arriving in Lampedusa from Tunisia, there are refugees and migrants from various African countries.
The majority are young men or unaccompanied minors, but there are also women, some of them pregnant, and children.
It is likely that these numbers will increase again in the wake of recent catastrophic flooding in Libya.
The socioeconomic situation in Tunisia has also worsened, with high inflation and a lack of jobs hitting residents hard.

The Commission’s 10 point plan

The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced a 10-point plan the day after her visit to Lampedusa.
Other measures include increasing returns, prevention of departures through the establishment of anti-trafficking partnerships in countries of origin and transit, and taking action against traffickers.
Two measures of note in the plan are those on implementing the EU-Tunisia Memorandum of Understanding and on exploring options for expanding naval missions in the Mediterranean.

The required response

The short term priority for the EU needs to be supporting Italy so it can take in people who arrive and manage the situation better.
The principle of mandatory solidarity which was agreed in June is fundamental to this, as it establishes a system for allocating asylum seekers among all EU member states.

Libya dam collapse: engineering expert raises questions about management

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星期六, 九月 16, 2023

Storm, Government, Safety, Pakistan Meteorological Department, Communication, Weather, Conversation, 2019–20 European windstorm season, Research, Housing, Flood, Failure, Earthquake, Population, Water, Dam

The dam collapse came after an extreme storm, Storm Daniel, slammed into the north African country.

Key Points:

The dam collapse came after an extreme storm, Storm Daniel, slammed into the north African country.
The Conversation Africa’s Moina Spooner asked water resources and engineering expert Nadhir Al-Ansari, who has researched the design and safety of dams, to provide insights into the disaster.

How does extreme weather affect the stability of dams?

For instance, in cases of storms, the engineers should release the water to ensure that a dam’s maximum carrying capacity is not exceeded.
The engineer responsible for the dam should have made sure the water did not exceed the dam’s upper carrying capacity.
In Libya’s case, bad management appears to have been the cause of the dam’s collapse.

Could this tragedy have been avoided?

When those responsible for the water management of the dam ignore heavy rainfall then one can expect such disasters to occur.
In this case, there must have been a breakdown in communication between meteorological department and engineers managing the dams.

How do engineers and authorities typically monitor the structural integrity of dams?

All countries with dams, whether in the US, Iraq or Sweden, have regular inspections.
There should be instruments for monitoring cracks in a dam’s walls and any changes in its structure.

Are there emerging technologies or innovations to improve safety?

Planning for extreme weather events is usually done at the design stage of the dam.
The designer is meant to give a thorough report on the stability of the dam against various factors, including weather.
Different scenarios are given according to the water level in the reservoir of the dam to prevent dam failure.

Western Union Supports Relief Efforts in Libya

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星期五, 九月 15, 2023

Environment, Technology, Payments, Finance, Natural Disasters, Fintech, Professional Services, Philanthropy, Other Philanthropy, Storm, Agent, 2019–20 European windstorm season, Flood, Cryptocurrency, Western Union

Western Union today announced its response to support the people and communities affected by the severe floods triggered by Storm Daniel in Libya on Sunday, Sept. 10.

Key Points:

Western Union today announced its response to support the people and communities affected by the severe floods triggered by Storm Daniel in Libya on Sunday, Sept. 10.
Western Union is offering zero-fee money transfers to consumers around the world who need to send money to Libya to support their loved ones.
Zero transfer fees to Libya applies to money sent from Western Union services across its global network through all available digital channels and retail locations.
“The intensity of the floods and the impact they have had is truly devastating,” said Mohamed Touhami el Ouazzani, Head of Africa at Western Union.

HUMAN APPEAL SENDS AID TO LIBYA TO AVERT HUNGER AND DISEASE FROM DEADLY FLOODING

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星期五, 九月 15, 2023

Storm, Trauma, 2019–20 European windstorm season, Food, International, Survivor, News, Risk, Demographics of Libya, Water, Disease, Life insurance

MISSION VIEJO, Calif., Sept. 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Over 10,000 people are missing after Storm Daniel tore through Libya on September 10th, triggering deadly flooding.

Key Points:

MISSION VIEJO, Calif., Sept. 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Over 10,000 people are missing after Storm Daniel tore through Libya on September 10th, triggering deadly flooding.
International charity, Human Appeal, has launched emergency aid relief via its partner to support the Libyan population hardest hit with food, water, medical aid and basic essentials.
The aid is needed to help avert hunger and disease after severe flooding destroyed local infrastructure bringing with it the risk of cholera spreading.
Human Appeal via its partner is supporting aid relief efforts in the eastern cities of Derna and Bayda working tirelessly to deliver lifesaving emergency aid to shattered families.

Libya floods: why cash is the best way to help get humanitarian aid to people affected by disasters

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星期六, 九月 16, 2023

As you watch the disturbing scenes of this disaster on the news, you might wonder about the best way to help.

Key Points:

As you watch the disturbing scenes of this disaster on the news, you might wonder about the best way to help.
Such “in-kind donations” (physical items such as food, clothing, household items and medicine) can actually place a heavy burden on the humanitarian aid network.
To avoid such backlogs, research shows donating money in cash or via bank transfer to verified international humanitarian organisations is the most helpful and efficient response to humanitarian crises.
Giving cash rather than in-kind donations also respects the dignity of beneficiaries, and prevents duplication and delivery of unneeded aid.

Delivering humanitarian aid to Derna

Libya is divided into zones ruled by different militias and two governments on the east and west of the country.
Worse, Derna is a neglected city in eastern Libya controlled by a rival administration to the western government.
The region’s government does not allow free access of humanitarian organisations to Derna so it’s unclear if much-needed aid is reaching the right people and being distributed equally.
The port of Derna was also closed due to security issues for about three years until 2021, affected the local economy.

The compounding effect of concurrent disasters

When disasters happen in a setting already hit by other crises, there is a compounding effect.
Responding to concurrent disasters is more challenging and can require more resources from humanitarian organisations.
The compounding effect of prolonged civil conflict makes delivering humanitarian aid challenging, but climate change is adding another layer of complexity to such situations.

How weather 'blocks' have triggered more extreme heatwaves and floods across Europe

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星期六, 九月 16, 2023

Storm, Omega, 2019–20 European windstorm season, Heat, Atmosphere, Temperature, Movement, Flood, Climate change, Risk, Weather, Rain, Agriculture, Atlantic Ocean

On several occasions this summer, Europe’s weather seemed to get itself stuck, leading to prolonged heatwaves and floods.

Key Points:

On several occasions this summer, Europe’s weather seemed to get itself stuck, leading to prolonged heatwaves and floods.
In September, Europe saw widespread flooding in southern Europe while the UK basked in its longest ever September heatwave.
A blocking event is a disruption to the usual weather patterns of Earth’s middle latitudes.
The normal state for Europe’s climate is to be led by the Atlantic, with weather systems forming over the ocean and sweeping eastward.
If Europe had had exactly the same omega pattern 50 years ago, many of the impacts would have been weaker.

Are blocking events getting more common?

Climate models indicate that blocking might become rarer as the world warms and the jet stream shifts a little further north, on average.
In fact, it’s quite likely that more severe events than those of this summer could strike in today’s climate.
Since blocking is relatively rare and sporadic, scientists don’t have a good sample of events on which to base their estimates of risk.
European summer heat has been getting worse due to climate change, but we should be preparing for even worse in the near future.

Libya flood disaster: scale of the catastrophe must bring the two warring factions together

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星期六, 九月 16, 2023

The death toll from the catastrophe is estimated at more than 11,000 with another 10,000 missing and feared dead.

Key Points:

The death toll from the catastrophe is estimated at more than 11,000 with another 10,000 missing and feared dead.
The former Libyan dictator, Muammar Gaddafi, regarded the city with distrust and deprived it of basic resources and infrastructure.
From 2015 to 2018 the city was besieged by Libya’s eastern warlord Khalifa Haftar and his Libyan National Army (LNA).
In the immediate aftermath of the disaster, Derna’s deputy mayor admitted the dams had not been maintained since 2002.

Divided country

The situation in Libya is exacerbated by the fact that in the civil war that followed the fall of Gaddafi, the country has essentially become split in half.
The east is administered from Tobruk by a National Assembly, established in 2014 and headed by prime minister Osama Hamad.
And even once that is given, the task is made more difficult by the fact that bridges and roads connecting the two parts of the country have been badly damaged in the civil war.

An opportunity to work together?

Despite the historic level of animosity between east and west, there have been precedents where the rival have been forced to cooperate on shared interests.
Earlier this year, the rival administrations agreed to form a committee to manage the distribution of oil revenues which form the backbone of Libya’s economy.
Countries that want to help the Libyan citizens most affected will have to work with the Haftar-backed leadership.
Far-fetched as this may seem, it could be a valuable learning experience for both sides.

Libya dam collapse happened because of bad management, not bad weather

Retrieved on:

星期六, 九月 16, 2023

More than 11,000 people have been killed and tens of thousands are missing following the catastrophic dam collapse in the eastern Libyan city of Derna on 12 September.

Key Points:

More than 11,000 people have been killed and tens of thousands are missing following the catastrophic dam collapse in the eastern Libyan city of Derna on 12 September.
The dam collapse came after an extreme storm, Storm Daniel, slammed into the north African country.

How does extreme weather affect the stability of dams?

For instance, in cases of storms, the engineers should release the water to ensure that a dam’s maximum carrying capacity is not exceeded.
The engineer responsible for the dam should have made sure the water did not exceed the dam’s upper carrying capacity.
In Libya’s case, bad management appears to have been the cause of the dam’s collapse.

Could this tragedy have been avoided?

When those responsible for the water management of the dam ignore heavy rainfall then one can expect such disasters to occur.
Dam managers should also know each dam’s catchment area and how much rainfall is forecast.

How do engineers and authorities typically monitor the structural integrity of dams?

All countries with dams, whether in the US, Iraq or Sweden, have regular inspections.
There should be instruments for monitoring cracks in a dam’s walls and any changes in its structure.

Are there emerging technologies or innovations to improve safety?

Planning for extreme weather events is usually done at the design stage of the dam.
The designer is meant to give a thorough report on the stability of the dam against various factors, including weather.
Different scenarios are given according to the water level in the reservoir of the dam to prevent dam failure.