...After the Libyan Civil War, Sabha grew in importance as a slave auctioning town. However, an investigation by the National Commission for Human Rights in Libya (NCHRL) revealed that while there was illegal slavery, reports were exaggerated, as slave auctions were rare and not made public. This was a great comfort to everyone but the slaves peddled in secret. The city was later seized by forces loyal to the Libyan National Army (LNA) and its leader Khalifa Haftar in January 2019, probably for its collection of MiG-25 aircraft.....and other towns and regions in southwestern Libya.
The committee will be led by the Minister of Labour and Rehabilitation, with membership including several ministers and heads of government agencies.
The committee is tasked with addressing the consequences of the recent floods caused by heavy rains. Its duties include providing immediate relief to citizens, repairing damages to services, and declaring a state of emergency to prepare for potential weather changes.
The committee will operate directly from Sabha and other southwestern areas and will remain active until the weather system passes.
In conjunction with this, Sabha International Airport has suspended flight operations due to severe damage caused by the heavy rainfall. Both passenger terminals and the check-in system have been affected, disrupting operations.
Authorities are assessing the extent of the damage and working on repairs to ensure the safety of passengers and staff. This suspension will cause delays for both domestic and international flights.
The Libyan government urged citizens to be cautious when travelling between cities in the south due to road conditions and the risks posed by the continuing bad weather. It also warned residents near valleys and flood-prone areas to remain alert as more rain is expected in the coming days.
The ongoing crisis in Libya, exacerbated by years of conflict, has made responding to emergencies like this more challenging. Libya remains politically divided, with rival administrations struggling to address the country’s infrastructure needs.