Fighting in Libya since 15th February, has led to a significant Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) contamination that threatens to increase the number of deaths and injuries of civilians and aid workers and jeopardize the delivery of life saving humanitarian aid. The ongoing conflict is creating a deadly topography in homes, communities and workplaces with a lethal collection of unexploded ordnance, abandoned ammunition and newly laid landmines.

In addition, ammunition dumps which were targeted buy NATO and also sabotaged by retreating Libyan forces have resulted in huge areas of contamination from ERW ‘kick-out’ following explosions at these facilities.

In response to this unfolding crisis, the FSD has trained and deployed two Battle Area Clearance (BAC) teams to address the immediate needs of affected communities living in the vicinity of a partially destroyed ammunition dump just outside the city of Tobruk. This large dump poses an immediate threat to civilians who are involved in scrap metal collection and inquisitive individuals – mostly youngsters - who have little or no knowledge of the dangers posed by damaged ammunition. These two BAC teams are currently being funded under a grant from the US State Department (PM/WRA).

Given the quickly developing situation in Libya, and the scale of the problem posed by ERW already identified in other locations, the FSD is currently trying to raise additional funding from other governmental and institutional donors to rapidly expand the current BAC and mine clearance capacity.