444m square metres of land in Libya contaminated by landmines, UN warns

The United Nations has warned that over 444 million square metres of land in Libya is contaminated by landmines and war remnants, Anadolu reported.

The UN revealed that 16 people, including children, have been killed by these remnants this year, a sharp increase from only two casualties recorded last year.

Citing experts, Director of the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in Libya, Fatma Zourrig, said that clearing Libya of war remnants will take at least 15 years. She explained that “more than one million explosive remnants of war and approximately 54 tonnes of small arms ammunition have been cleared in Libya since 2011.

“The areas still requiring clearance cover over 444 million square metres, representing more than 64 per cent of the lands identified as containing mine and war-related risks.”

While surveys are ongoing, Zourrig noted that “this figure is not final and could increase.”

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