On Sunday, the Ministry of Interior in the Government of National Unity (GNU) announced the safe disposal of 250 kilograms of war remnants and mines.
The ministry stated in a release that the Security Inspection Bureau and Explosive Ordnance Disposal Unit, in collaboration with the Threat Mitigation Unit and the Security Directorate of Al-Ajaylat, carried out the operation.
Photos revealed security personnel disposing safely of RPG projectiles, tank shells, and mortar rounds in the desert.
Last month, the security inspection and explosive ordnance disposal team at the Criminal Investigation Department branch in the southern region successfully recovered a (Grad) rocket found in a residential neighbourhood in the new city of Sabha.
The Ministry of Interior in the Government of National Unity (GNU) stated that the team also managed to extract a (Katyusha) shell from a citizen’s farm along the Sabha-Ubary road.
Both projectiles were safely transported for disposal, as per official protocols.
Meanwhile, the toll of casualties from an explosion of war remnants in Ubari, southern Libya, has risen to 11, mostly children.
The incident occurred in the residential area of Sharb, after children found the projectile and moved it from its location, according to a statement by Ubari Municipality Mayor Ahmed Matu to local media.
The mayor expressed his extreme concern about the incident, urging the “relevant authorities” in the country to quickly remove the war remnants from the city of Ubari to ensure the safety of citizens.
In December, the Ministry of Interior announced the discovery of 1,430 war-era ordnances, close to a project site, strategically positioned near Sebha International Airport.
The Ministry stated that the discovery was a result of a report from Al-Qarda Police Station in Sebha. Upon receiving the information, the Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) division of the Southern Criminal Investigation Department was dispatched to the scene.
The unearthed ordnances comprise of 155-125 type artillery shells, various artillery shell mechanisms, Grad rockets (type 106), and mortar projectiles, sized 180-161.
In 2022, the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) and the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) expressed their deep concerns about the continued loss of civilian lives, due to unexploded ordnance in populated areas.
The two UN bodies said in a joint statement that another child tragically lost his life this week when he found and played with a grenade that was left behind by Libya’s warring parties.
“UNICEF and UNMAS are deeply concerned by the continued loss of civilian lives, especially children, from explosive remnants of war and urge all Libyans to be aware of the risks,” the joint statement said.
