“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.”
[May.07.2023] On the 1st (local time), the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) reported that 27,400 explosive remnants of war (ERW) were removed from the Libyan cities of Tripoli, Misurata, Benghazi and Sirte in 2022.
According to UNSMIL, more than 1 million ERW have been removed in Libya since 2011 and 82% of them were projectiles and 4% were small arms ammunition.
However, despite intense efforts from mine action partners over the past decade, more than 15 million cubic meters of explosive ordnances are remaining across Libya, UNSMIL said. In 2022, according to UNSMIL, 19 people, including 14 children, were killed by ERW in Libya.
According to World Prayer Information, since the fall of the long-time ruler Gaddafi’s regime in 2011, Libya has been suffering insecurity and chaos and became a land of division from civil wars of political factions. Radical Islamists such as ISIS and small armed groups took advantage of the chaos and took control of some villages. Meanwhile, outside forces supported their political factions, adding further chaos to the instability of the civil wars, and smugglers exploited vulnerable to profit using the armed forces.
Libyan people suffered greatly during this period, with thousands of casualties and 60% of the population suffering from malnutrition. In the past decade, about a million Libyans have made the perilous flight to Italy. Human trafficking is also on the rise, taking advantage of Libya’s turmoil and the vulnerability of the Libyan people. (Source: Newsis, prayer 24 365 headquarters).
When hard pressed, I cried to the Lord; he brought me into a spacious place. The Lord is with me; he is my helper. I look in triumph on my enemies. (Psalms 118:5-7)
God, have mercy on the Libyans that they may flee to You amidst the hardships of the long civil wars and the fear of hidden explosives. Pray that the international community would do their part in removing landmines and explosives from this devastated land. God, may You destroy the evil forces that extort the weak by taking advantage of the instability. May the gospel be preached to the people of this land so that they will be comforted by You, the living God who gives salvation and revives the soul.
Prayer 24·365
prayer@prayer24365.org
