Fostering Stabilization in Benghazi through Integrated Mine Action

The Issue

DCA arrived in Libya in 2011 as part of the humanitarian assistance in the wake of the revolution and focused on the education of men, women, and children as to the dangers of Explosive Remnants of War (ERW), as well as the clearance of any Unexploded Ordnance (UXO).

The city of Benghazi has been left heavily contaminated with UXO after periods of armed violence. Parts of the city as well as key infrastructure was scattered with explosive items and could therefore not be made safely accessible for reconstruction and refurbishment.

The Project

The focus of the project is to support reconstruction and stabilization in the Benghazi through Humanitarian Mine Action. Aside from the general education of children and adults as to the dangers of ERW (Risk Education) so that they could return to their homes in safety, DCA conducted Risk Education with municipal council workers, doctors and nurses, teachers, energy supply workers, and construction workers.

DCA Libya continues to contribute to the return of land and infrastructure to socio-economic productive use by clearing targeted areas from mines and other ERW.

The Change

To contribute to enhancing the safety of IDPs returning to Benghazi and to facilitate the repair of critical infrastructure, the project has the following specific objectives:

• Clear Mines and Explosive Remnants of War and return land and infrastructure to socio-economic use.
• Remove and dispose of any abandoned ammunition caches.
• Educate the public about the risk of mines and ERW.

The results:

From the beginning of the project up until October 2022, the project has achieved several great milestones:

• DCA Libya has trained 21 people to become explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) certified, as well as three medics and four risk education team members.
• 2,815 items of UXO contamination have been removed/destroyed and no longer pose a threat to the inhabitants of Benghazi.
• 386,113 square meters have been cleared through battle-area clearance and subsequently been returned to the community for socio-economic productive use.
• 873,136 square meters have been surveyed by the EOD team, of which 430,634 square meters was declared safe to access for the public and returned to the communities.