UN: 16 people killed in Libya due to landmine explosions since beginning of year

By Muhammed Semiz

TRIPOLI, Libya (AA) – UN on Monday reported that 16 people, including children, have died in Libya since the beginning of the year due to explosions from landmines and unexploded remnants of war.

Over 444 million square meters in Libya need to be cleared of war remnants and landmines, warning that the cleanup process could take up to 15 years, said Fatima Zurik, head of the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in Libya.

Since the fall of Muammar Gaddafi's regime in 2011, conflicts among various armed groups have contaminated large areas with mines and war remnants.

The landmines and munitions, which occasionally explode, continue to claim the lives of innocent people.

Oil-rich Libya has remained in turmoil since 2011, when longtime ruler Gaddafi was ousted after four decades in power.

The country has since been divided into two parts. One is governed by the Tripoli-based Government of National Accord and the other by Benghazi-based military commander Khalifa Haftar.