This latest demolition brings the total amount of ERW from the Suknah region destroyed to 1,146.6 tonnes. With more collected ERW ready to be destroyed, the work to clear the area of ERW will continue in the months ahead.
Safe storage and demolition of ammunition is critical to Libya’s safety. The urgency of this issue was tragically brought to the forefront last November, when an explosion at an arms depot near Sabha caused the death of more than 40 people.
In response to that incident, only one of numerous that have happened involving ERW and storage areas across the country, the United Nations dispatched a team of experts to assist in the aftermath.
UNSMIL’s Arms and Ammunition Section supervised the construction of the Zintan site that was handed over in June, which consists of two rows of 15 compartmentalized ammunition storage areas. As per an agreement signed with Zintan authorities in 2013, UNSMIL experts will continue to offer technical assistance and visit the site to ensure proper storage procedures are being followed.
Whether among the Western mountains or in the middle of the central desert, UNSMIL is working with local authorities and international partners to make all of Libya safer.
Through explosive ordnance disposal, technical advice, risk education and stockpile management projects, UN experts lead and coordinate the international community’s efforts pertaining to humanitarian mine action and arms and ammunition management.
(Source: UNSMIL)