Explosive Situation: Qaddafi’s Abandoned Weapons and the Threat to Libya’s Civilians Researched and written by: Bonnie Docherty, Senior Clinical Instructor and Lecturer on Law, International Human Rights Clinic (IHRC), Harvard Law School Anna Crowe, Nicolette Boehland, and Rebecca Richards, students in IHRC Cover Design by: Timothy Schommer International Human Rights Clinic Human Rights Program Harvard Law School 6 Everett Street Cambridge, MA 02138 Copyright © 2012 by the President and Fellows of Harvard College Explosive Situation: Qaddafi’s Abandoned Weapons and the Threat to Libya’s Civilians August 2012 Explosive Situation: Qaddafi’s Abandoned Weapons and the Threat to Libya’s Civilians TABLE OF CONTENTS ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ..................................................................................................................................... i TABLE OF ACRONYMS ................................................................................................................................... iii GLOSSARY OF KEY TERMS .............................................................................................................................v SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS ......................................................................................................... 1 Responsible Parties and the Need for a National Plan ................................................................................. 2 Stockpile Management..................................................................................................................................... 3 Clearance ........................................................................................................................................................... 4 Risk Education and Victim Assistance ............................................................................................................. 5 International Cooperation and Assistance ..................................................................................................... 6 Scope of the Report .......................................................................................................................................... 6 Methodology ......................................................................................................................................................7 SCOPE AND NATURE OF THE ABANDONED ORDNANCE PROBLEM ...........................................................9 Arms in Libya and the 2011 Armed Conflict...................................................................................................9 Background .............................................................................................................................................................. 9 The Abandoned Ordnance Problem ..............................................................................................................10 Post-Conflict Players .......................................................................................................................................13 International Attention to the Abandoned Ordnance Problem ..................................................................16 HUMANITARIAN THREATS OF ABANDONED ORDNANCE IN LIBYA ........................................................19 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... 19 Humanitarian Threats .................................................................................................................................... 19 Stockpiles in Populated Areas ........................................................................................................................19 Curiosity ..................................................................................................................................................................20 Harvesting of Materials from the Weapons ...............................................................................................21 Community Clearance ........................................................................................................................................23 Displays of Mementos .......................................................................................................................................24 STOCKPILE MANAGEMENT ......................................................................................................................... 27 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... 27 Principles and Standards ............................................................................................................................... 27 The Stockpile Management Situation in Libya ........................................................................................... 29 Challenges for Libya ....................................................................................................................................... 30 Weak Coordination ..............................................................................................................................................30 Inadequate Implementation of Stockpile Management Standards ..................................................31 The Need to Change Attitudes ....................................................................................................................... 37 Insufficient Funding ...........................................................................................................................................38 Recommendations .......................................................................................................................................... 39 CLEARANCE ...................................................................................................................................................41 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... 41 Principles and Standards ............................................................................................................................... 41 Clearance Activities in Libya ......................................................................................................................... 42 Challenges to Clearance in Libya .................................................................................................................. 43 Resource Limitations .........................................................................................................................................43 Obstacles to Deminers Gaining Access to Sites .......................................................................................45 Need to Increase Capacity in Libya ..............................................................................................................45 Recommendations .......................................................................................................................................... 46 RISK EDUCATION AND VICTIM ASSISTANCE .............................................................................................. 47 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... 47 Principles and Standards ............................................................................................................................... 47 Risk Education and Victim Assistance Activities in Libya ........................................................................... 49 Challenges to Risk Education in Libya ......................................................................................................... 50 Dangerous Attitudes Toward Weapons ........................................................................................................51 Practical Challenges...........................................................................................................................................51 The Need to Increase Capacity in Libya ......................................................................................................51 Recommendations .......................................................................................................................................... 53 INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION AND ASSISTANCE .................................................................................55 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................... 55 Principles and Standards ............................................................................................................................... 55 Stockpile Management .....................................................................................................................................56 Clearance, Risk Education, and Victim Assistance ................................................................................... 57 Status and Shortcomings of International Cooperation and Assistance in Libya ................................... 58 International Community at Large