DCA in Libya

As a result of fighting during the 2011 revolution and armed conflict across the country since, many areas of Libya are contaminated by explosive remnants of war (ERW). This contamination poses a serious threat to the safety of the population, in particular children, whose natural curiosity often leads them to touch or play with these highly dangerous items. As well as a direct risk to human life, these highly unstable items hinder safe access to essential services such as medical facilities, education, water and electricity supply. They therefore pose a significant barrier to the reconstruction and regeneration of town and cities, and act as an obstacle to the safe implementation of many other organizations’ aid projects. To that end, DCA works in areas affected by conflict with high levels of ERW contamination and clears residential, commercial, educational, medical and agricultural sites, ensuring that property and land is returned to socioeconomic use, contributing to stabilization.

Another result of the crisis in Libya has been weapons proliferation, with large numbers of small arms and light weapons making their way into the ownership of non-state actors and private individuals. To counter the effects of this problem, DCA works with very proactive and dynamic civil society organizations, training them in business skills and specialist skills, developing their personnel to design and implement innovative projects to educate communities as to the risk of guns and in particular to resolve conflict which can lead to armed violence. 

New conflicts in 2016 and 2019 lead to on-going high levels of insecurity and have deeply affected most if not all Libyan citizens. Many have endured emotional trauma, witnessed violent acts, experienced bereavement or been displaced from their homes. With the capacities of Libyan health services limited and to alleviate some of that trauma, DCA works through civil society partners to provide psychosocial support to adults and children.

Conflict across the country has displaced over 672,000 citizens and there continues to be a high risk of injury or fatality amongst IDPs when returning to areas that have seen fighting. By educating citizens to the dangers of ERW and by treating the psychological issues of enduring conflict, DCA supports communities and helps them recover from war and rebuild their livelihoods.

In 2020 DCA Libya:

• Removed and destroyed 2,602 items of unexploded ordnance or abandoned ammunition.
• Destroyed over 21 tons of explosive ordnance.
• Cleared over 2 million square metres of land, handing it back to communities for socio-economic use.
• Directly benefitted over 40,000 beneficiaries through clearance of unexploded ordnance.

DCA is now in its 11th year of working in Libya and has offices in Tripoli, Misrata, Sirte, and Benghazi.

Click on the link below and download a factsheet about our work in Libya

DCA in Libya