Present in Libya for several months running mine risk education activities, Handicap International is now ready to intervene in sectors affected by recent fightings. A demining specialist may also be sent to the field very shortly.
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© Handicap International
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Although fighting has been raging for days between the rebels and forces loyal to Colonel Gadhafi in and around Tripoli, Handicap International is now in a position to rapidly send a team to areas affected by the fighting. A specialist in demining operations is also expected to join our team in Libya shortly to assess demining needs in the country. They will also consult with local authorities and other demining operators present in Libya and coordinate mining actions with them. The end of the conflict does not mean an end to the danger faced by civilians. Explosive remnants of war, such as artillery shells, mortars, rockets and landmines, pose a lethal threat to civilians. Our organisation is set to assess the risks run by local population of these areas and set up, if necessary, preventive actions.
A few weeks after the start of the rebellion in Libya, Handicap International sent a team to assess the situation. Our teams gathered consistent information on the presence of a very large number of explosive remnants of war. Large-scale demining operations will be necessary following the end of hostilities. In the meantime, in a bid to save lives, there is an urgent need to provide information and raise the awareness of populations to the deadly risk posed by these weapons.
Handicap International raises the awareness of local people and particularly children to the risk of landmines and unexploded remnants of war. In Benghazi, our teams run face-to-face sessions to teach people the correct response when faced with unexploded ordnance or unidentified objects (i.e. do not approach or touch them, mark the danger zone and alert Handicap International’s teams and local authorities). These actions have been extended to include private companies, local authorities and other organisations.
From 23rd June, Handicap International also stepped up its risk education activities in Ajdabiya. Scouts trained by our organisation are also distributing risk education advice in Misrata, an area particularly badly affected by the conflict.
In a release of 27 April 2011, the Libyan National Transitional Council renounced the use of landmines (anti-personnel and anti-vehicle) and agreed to destroy them. The Council also expressed a desire to cooperate with demining, awareness and victim assistance activities.
