Handicap International is sending an emergency team to Libya within the next few days to raise the awareness of the local population about the danger posed by landmines and other explosive remnants of war.
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Between 15th and 23rd March, Handicap International carried out an evaluation mission in Libya, gathering consistent reports on the presence of large numbers of explosive remnants of war (artillery shells and mortars, rockets, missiles, landmines and unexploded grenades).
Major demining operations will be necessary at the end of the current hostilities. In the meantime, lives are at risk. There is an urgent need to disseminate information and educate local populations to save lives and prevent injuries from these weapons.
On 30th March, Human Rights Watch confirmed the use of anti-personnel mines by Libyan government forces, threatening the security of the civilian population. Two days earlier, 24 anti-vehicle mines and 30 to 40 anti-personnel mines were found near Ajdabiya, a town of 100,000 inhabitants occupied by Libyan government forces between 17th and 27th March.
Prior to this discovery, anti-vehicle mines were found by local residents near Ghar Yunis University in Benghazi. The United Nations have also located 12 warehouses in Benghazi containing tens of thousands of anti-vehicle mines.
On 4th April, the International Day for Mine Awareness, the UN will launch an appeal for the universalisation of the 1997 Mine Ban Treaty. Libya is one of only 37 States still refusing to ban these deadly and indiscriminate weapons. Before the current conflict, Libya was already contaminated by large numbers of mines left over from the Second World War.
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