Dead people linger on the streets of Derna after the storms. Click to watch the video.
In Derna’s ruins, the echoes wail,
Storm Daniel’s wrath tells a grievous tale.
Thousands lost to nature’s cry,
Under Libya’s tumultuous sky.
For years, neglected by politicians’ sway,
Derna suffered, its strength in slow decay.
Gaddafi, Haftar, and Tripolitania’s strife,
Left the city weakened, its hopes on life’s knife.
Derna, once a coastal jewel,
Now a stage for power’s cruel duel.
As thousands perished, infrastructure crumbled,
The people came together, undeterred and humbled.
Yet, international aid struggles to reach their hands,
Hindered by power-hungry leaders and political demands.
Silhouettes in the storm’s aftermath,
Trace the contours of our shared path.
Refugees, locals, hearts entwined,
In sorrow’s fabric, our fates aligned.
We, the refugees, your brothers here,
Send condolences sincere.
As refugees in Libya, we extend our embrace,
To those affected, sharing grief heart to heart.
Though we’ve endured hardships, unimaginable and vast,
We stand united, for every life lost is a tragedy unsurpassed.
Our plight is shared, our hearts bleed too,
In Derna’s pain, we stand with you.
May the world heed this tragic play,
Lend a hand, not turn away.
For NATO’s sins, For Europe’s guilt, may justice come,
The Libyan soul is not to be undone.
For Derna’s loss is ours to share,
A call to all, to show we care.
To rebuild, to heal, to rise above,
In the name of humanity, in the name of love.
For the people of Derna, we send our love,
A poem of hope, rising high above.
YAMBIO DAVID 