Libyan Oases Face Environmental Disaster as Fires Consume Farms and Creep Towards Homes

The head of the local youth council in the town of Al-Awaynat in southwestern Libya, Saleh Sosam, urgently called on authorities and relevant entities to intervene quickly after the fires spread to residential neighborhoods, warning of an "environmental and economic disaster" amid rising temperatures and the expanding fire area.

Since Saturday, residents of the town have been facing fires that have consumed dozens of hectares of farms, palm groves, grape crops, in addition to losses in livestock, while the fires continue to creep towards homes amidst strong winds and the absence of any official support.

According to eyewitnesses and local activists, firefighting efforts currently rely on limited local resources, as residents try to extinguish the fires using primitive tools like plastic containers and their own vehicles, while others rush to evacuate their homes. The fires have also led to the burning of electrical wires and damage to nearby commercial shops.

Criticism is mounting against the authorities in eastern and western Libya for their failure to provide support despite the dangerous situation. Residents have expressed anger at the lack of firefighting teams or equipment to face the disaster, which threatens the agricultural heritage and livelihoods of the locals.

Al-Awaynat is known for its palm groves, which are considered an environmental and social heritage, but the fires now threaten to erase this heritage, while the town appears isolated in facing the disaster without government support.