The United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) reported that "despite strong efforts from mine action partners over the past decade, more than 15 million square meters are still contaminated with explosive ordnances across Libya."
"Mine action efforts are an essential component of Libya’s journey to peace and stability coupled with reforms in the security sector to control explosive ordnance contamination and the proliferation of weapons," said Special Representative of the Secretary-General Abdoulaye Bathily.
"The threat posed to Libyan citizens undermines stability and the right to a life without fear," he added in a UNSMIL statement marking the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.
Chief of Staff of the forces affiliated with the interim Government of National Unity headed by Abdulhamid Dbeibah destroyed in March 16 tons of war remnants in Al-Aqrabiyah, Ain Zara, Garyan, Wadi Mimoun in Bani Walid, and Bir al-Ghanam.
"The indiscriminate use of weapons in civilian areas during the recent conflicts means even urban areas are littered with explosive remnants of war. These remnants of conflict obstruct safe access to education, healthcare, and development, and continue to injure or kill long after the fighting has ceased, posing a daily threat to life and livelihoods," according to the Mission.
Several regions in Libya including southern Tripoli, Sirte, and Benghazi, suffered from the landmines that killed hundreds in the past years and left a generation of "amputees".
There are still Libyan families in south Libya outside their houses out of fear of landmines, especially since many families who returned were killed because they entered their houses before they were cleared by the technical engineering teams.
On International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, the UNSMIL remembers the 19 people, including 14 children, killed by explosive remnants of war in Libya in 2022.
"The UNSMIL Mine Action Programme (UNMAS Libya) together with the Libyan Mine Action Centre, the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and other mine action partners are working to remove these life-threatening items from schools, houses, farmlands, and hospitals, and to safeguard Libyans by increasing awareness of the explosive ordnance threat."
Members of the Military Engineering Department in West Libya underwent training in the removal of war remnants, landmines, and innovative explosives under the supervision of the Turkish training mission.
"In 2022, partners in Libya removed 27,400 explosive ordnances in Tripoli, Misrata, Benghazi, and Sirte --- but there is more to do. We need to scale up efforts to enable Libya towards a safer future without explosive hazards."
The Mission further announced plans to join the Libyan Mine Action Centre in its goal to officially commemorate the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action 2023 on 2 May 2023.
