Libya: Radio Campaign Warns Of Dangers Of Unexploded Devices
23 November 2011
Tripoli/Geneva (ICRC) – The
International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)
and the
Libyan Red Crescent launched yesterday a three-week radio
campaign
to raise awareness of the risks of explosive
remnants of war among the
population. The danger exists
in different places in Libya, but the
campaign is
primarily addressing people who are gradually returning
to
their homes in Sirte and Bani Walid. The heavy
fighting which took place
until last month left the two
cities seriously contaminated by such devices.
"The threat
to civilians in these urban areas, mainly from small
unexploded
weapons such as grenades, rockets and mortar
shells, is severe," said
Jennifer Reeves, an ICRC
delegate. "In Sirte in the past week alone, two
children
playing with one of these devices and a young man cleaning
his
damaged house were badly injured. Many people are
unaware of the dangers
posed by ordnance which may
explode at the slightest touch." Dozens of
civilians have
been killed or maimed in the country in
similar
circumstances in the past month.
Five radio
stations – Radio Bani Walid, Radio Libya and Sawt Trablus
in
Tripoli, Radio Libya Al Hurra in Benghazi and in
Misrata – will broadcast
the messages six times a day.
The radio spots are part of a larger campaign
to educate
people about the risks of unexploded devices.
Billboards,
leaflets and posters are being displayed and
distributed in contaminated
areas, where volunteers, many
of them from the Libyan Red Crescent, are
spreading the
word of warning.
For over a week, the ICRC has been
physically removing explosive debris
from the streets and
people's homes in Sirte and Bani Walid. It has
deployed
an explosive ordnance disposal team, comprising two
clearance
experts, a medical doctor and a field officer,
in each city.
The clearance operations are coordinated
closely with the local authorities
and supported by
volunteers who collect reports from the population
about
unexploded devices. "In Sirte and Bani Walid we
have been overwhelmed with
reports from residents who are
worried about the threat to themselves and
their
families," said Ms Reeves.
"Risk education is crucial to
help people stay safe until the threat posed
by explosive
remnants of war is removed, which will take considerable
time
and resources in the heavily contaminated areas,"
she added. "We will work
closely with other humanitarian
organizations once they join the clearance
and awareness
raising efforts in the two cities."
Since March, the ICRC
has removed some 1,400 unexploded devices in places
badly
affected by hostilities, such as Ajdabiya, Misrata and the
Nefusa
mountains. It has also trained over 140 Libyan Red
Crescent volunteers from
nine local branches to raise
awareness of the threat among the
local
population.
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