Tripoli, 12 March 2013 – Japan is contributing US$1.8 million to the Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Action to facilitate the clearance of explosive remnants of war, coordinated by the United Nations Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) through the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS).

The 2011 conflict in Libya exacerbated the threat of explosive remnants of war and contributed to the illicit proliferation of ammunitions and weapons.

Special Representative of the Secretary-General for Libya Tarek Mitri stressed that "Libya's explosive remnants of war and unsecured arms and ammunition have considerable consequences for national and regional security. We are extremely grateful for Japan's concerted efforts to help mitigate this hazard in support of Libya's priorities on arms and ammunition control as articulated at the Paris Ministerial Conference this year."

He further noted that "it is our hope that this support constitutes the beginning of a longer-term partnership to address these challenges."

UNMAS is the United Nations focal point for mine action. It currently supports programmes in Afghanistan, Chad, Colombia, Côte d'Ivoire, Cyprus, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Lebanon, Libya, State of Palestine, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan and Western Sahara (MINURSO).