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Libya

 

IMPACT

From January 2024 - December 2024

  • More than 8,300 explosive remnants of war (ERW) were found and disposed of in different areas in Libya, indicating the level explosive ordnance (EO) contamination in the country. Much of these hazardous areas need re-surveying and updating due to the re-contamination.

  • A total 53,767 people received explosive ordnance risk education (EORE) in Libya through 9,733 EORE sessions delivered by mine action partners.

  • UNMAS conducted Advanced Device Scene Incident Management (DSIM), Individual First Aid Kit (IFAK), and Training of Trainer (ToT) DSIM courses for Forensic Police officers from across Libya. UNMAS also conducted an Operations and Quality Assurance training for Libyan Mine Action Centre (LibMAC) officers from all regional offices.

 

ABOUT

 

UNMAS deployed to Libya in March 2011 and integrated into the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) in July 2012. As UNSMIL Mine Action Section, the UNMAS programme in Libya is mandated by UN Security Council resolution (SCR) 2755 (2024) on Libya to take steps to secure and effectively manage stockpiles, clear explosive ordnance (EO) and explosive remnants of war (ERW) from hazardous areas to protect people and their livelihoods, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), and UN SCR 2365 (2017) on mine action. UNMAS activities in Libya contribute to humanitarian, stabilisation, reconciliation, and the Sustainable Development Goals.

 

Since 2011, Libya has experienced a series of conflicts and unrest, with the most recent heavy conflict in August 2023, leading to an increased problem of EO contamination/recontamination in urban areas. To date, the Libyan Mine Action Centre (LibMAC) has identified more than 678 million m² as hazardous areas. ERW contamination poses a significant threat to civilians, hinders the return of IDPs, and obstructs efforts towards long-term stabilization, rehabilitation, and development in all parts of Libya. Approximately 50,000 internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Libya still require support for safe returns and durable solutions; most of those remaining displaced originate from highly contaminated areas such as Tawergha, Murzuq and Derna. Vital infrastructure such as water and electricity services, hospitals, schools, markets, and homes are believed to be affected. Since May 2020, the deliberate and indiscriminate use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs), booby-traps, and ERW has caused 210 accidents, resulting in 420 casualties (119 deaths and 301 injured) of which the majority were civilians. In 2024, 20 of 43 victims were children, indicating the profound safety risk.

 

In 2011, the NATO-led military operations on ammunition storage areas (ASAs) resulted in both the partial destruction and the widespread availability of weapons and EO. Of the 36 known ASAs in 2011, 17 were destroyed. The 19 remaining ASAs, with capacity to hold up to 250 metric tonnes of ammunition, are in unknown condition. The fragmented security sector and continuing insecurity, especially due to armed groups controlling ASAs, has limited the ability to assess the full scope of arms and ammunition threat in Libya. Fuelled by the widespread availability of military grade explosive material, several armed groups, including extremist actors, have utilized IEDs and booby-traps in numerous areas throughout Libya. Despite challenges, opportunities for UNMAS to undertake confidence building with Libyan institutions and counterparts and initiate a deeper engagement in WAM activities exist. The availability of military-grade explosives has resulted in the use of sophisticated and dangerous explosive devices, and effective responses to these surpass the current capabilities of many Libyan institutions, necessitating support from mine action partners.

 

ACTIVITIES

 

UNMAS assists Libyan institutions, UN, and humanitarian partners in mitigating the threat from EO, arms and ammunition, and in advancing the peace process. Activities are aligned in four pillars – Mine Action, Weapons and Ammunition Management, Capacity Enhancement of Libyan Institutions and Advancing the Peace Process which contribute to the implementation of the UN Mine Action Strategy, the UNMAS Libya Country Programme Strategy, as well as the UNSMIL and UN Country Team Workplans to enable humanitarian and development work. 

Weapons and Ammunition Management (WAM)

Unsafe and insecure storage of arms and ammunition, as well as their illicit proliferation, continue to pose serious challenges to security and stabilisation. UNMAS advises Libyan institutions on safe and secure management of weapons and ammunition in Libya. In 2019, UNMAS collected and disposed of approximately 200 tonnes of ERW from ASAs. UNMAS has delivered small arms and light weapons risk awareness to assist in strengthening community resilience.

 

Mine Action Coordination and Protection of Civilians

UNMAS mitigates the threat posed by ERW by engaging with Libyan institutions to coordinate the mine action sector response. UNMAS also conducts survey, explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) and EORE at the request of Libyan institutions to address gaps in the response capacity and during emergencies. In 2023, UNMAS via its partner DanChurch Aid (DCA) removed 2,108 ERW across Tripoli, in Al Maya, Ain Zara, Airport Road, Salahadin, and Wadi Al Rabie, and conducted non-technical survey of 1,380,787 m². As a result, the resumption of livelihoods and agriculture activities were enabled.

 

Capacity Enhancement of Libyan Institutions

The capacity to address the scope of EO and WAM challenges in Libya is insufficient and a knowledge and equipment gap remains. UNMAS prioritises the capacity enhancement of Libyan institutions, including assisting the LibMAC in developing further and implementing the Libyan Mine Action Standards. UNMAS supports Libyan institutions to develop and implement processes, policies, and guidelines on EOD and WAM, according to international standards. UNMAS has delivered capacity development support to Libyan institutions, including training on EOD, Tactical First Responder (TFR) training, TFR  training of trainers (ToT), and Device Scene Incident Management (DSIM). In 2023, UNMAS conducted DSIM and (International First Aid Kit) IFAK training for the Forensic Police, including a ToT; an Operational and Quality Assurance Training was conducted by UNMAS for 16 LibMAC officers.

Advancing the Peace Process

UNMAS continues to support UNSMIL and the parties dedicated to the implementation of the October 2020 Ceasefire Agreement by providing technical expertise to the Mine Action Sub-Committee of the 5+5 Joint Military Commission. In 2024, UNMAS provided technical support for the first time at the 5+5 training centre for humanitarian demining (THCD) on the role of non-technical survey and land release process. The THCD is a training centre affiliated with the ‎ ‎Ministry of Defense of Libya which‎ aims to promote closer cooperation among the state countries of the initiative that includes ‎France, Italy, Portugal, Malta, ‎Spain, Algeria, Libya, ‎Mauritania, ‎Morocco, and Tunisia.

FUNDING

 

UNMAS implements these activities in close cooperation with local and international stakeholders, and receives funding to carry out its activities from the UNSMIL Regular Budget and bilateral donors, including Italy and Spain.  

 

Data as of January 2025