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MAG has removed more than 100,000 landmines and other remnants of conflict in Libya since deploying in early 2011. Click to view: Libya slideshow |
MAG's response to the crisis
22 houses declared safe, amongst 34 EOD tasks last week (14 May 2012)
A safe future for schoolchildren in Sirte (4 May 2012)
Training teachers in risk reduction messages (13 March 2012)
Libya one year on: The battle against cluster bombs, landmines and UXO (14 February 2012)
Starting the school year with Risk Education (1 February 2012)
Now children carry flyers, not UXO, in Zintan (7 November 2011)
VIDEO: Working on the ground to secure the skies (23 September 2011)
Reducing danger and increasing security (6 September 2011)
SLIDESHOW: Libya 2011 – conflict response
Remnants of conflict continue to pose huge threat (22 June 2011)
Children at risk from munitions (14 June 2011)
Hundreds of unexploded devices destroyed in Ajdabiya (9 June 2011)
Secretary of State announces support for MAG (6 June 2011)
Assessment shows need for urgent response in Misrata (1 June 2011)
MAG receives funding to secure weapons stockpiles (10 May 2011)
MAG steps up operations (27 April 2011)
MAG is now operational (14 April 2011)
MAG responds to the emergency (7 April 2011)
© Al-Jazeera English, english.aljazeera.net
The problem
Ongoing heavy fighting on the ground between forces of the Libyan NTC
and those loyal to Colonel Gaddafi, together with NATO-led air strikes
in support of UN Security Council Resolution 1973, continue to impact
the daily lives of Libyan civilians.
Libya has also amassed
extensive stockpiles of conventional weapons, which are located in
Ammunition Storage Points that, since the conflict began, are poorly
secured and have in many cases been breached.
A direct consequence of this development is the proliferation of abandoned explosive ordnance (AXO), which poses a severe danger from accidental detonation or discharge.
As the conflict continues, contamination will increase from unexploded ordnance (UXO), particularly in
strategically important towns and cities where the fighting is most
intense. Reports have highlighted use of cluster munitions by
Gaddafi forces, together with mine-laying in strategic positions.
Our thanks to the following donors to MAG’s Libya operations: AECID (Spanish Government); Canadian Department for Foreign Affairs and International Trade (DFAIT); The Kirby Laing Foundation; UK Department for International Development / UKaid; UNHCR (The UN Refugee Agency); UNOPS; US Department of State's Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement.
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