“I regretfully declare, that it is impossible for Libya to meet its commitments towards freeing the country of mines, Unexploded Ordnance and Small Arms Light Weapons beyond the national authorities’ control, without additional funding to make up for the shortages in the resources required to implement the proposals for the coming period,” he warned.
The program is looking for an additional US$17 million in 2014, said Mr. Diek Engelbrecht, Head of UNSMIL's Arms and Ammunition Advisory Section.
“We are all very much aware of the threat that exists in Libya. That threat is not going to away by itself,” he added. “Let us support the work that needs to be done.”
The launching of the portfolio was attended by representatives from Britain, France, Germany, Netherlands, South Africa, the United States and the European Union.
UNSMIL, UNICEF and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) also attended, as well as International Non-Governmental Organizations Danish Church Aid (DCA), Danish Demining Group (DDG), Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Fondation Suisse de Déminage (FSD), Free Fields Foundation (3F) , Handicap International (HI), Mines Advisory Group (MAG), and MECHEM, a contractor for UNMAS.
(Source: UNSMIL)
