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By Libya Herald reporter.
Tunis, 10 February 2017:
More aid for returning Sirte residents has arrived this week in the shattered town – all of it from private donations rather than from the authorities. The latest convoy of food and provisions has come from Bani Walid and Tripoli which, according to a representative of the Sirte Crisis Committee, will help 1,200 families.
Sirte’s mayor Mukhtar Al-Madani reiterated his frustration today that the Presidency Council had not provided any assistance in the repatriation of residents or their needs. Despite the strife the city faces, with as many as 5,000 homes destroyed, Sirte continued to rely on volunteers, he said.
Some 500 more families are reported to have returned over the past day in part of a six-stage process of repatriation. Another 250 returned earlier this week.
Meanwhile unexploded ordinance remains the biggest threat for returning residents despite attempts to clear the area.
A Sirte resident lost a leg today after trying to dismantle a Scud missile that exploded. It is understood he was trying to break up the missile to sell it for scrap. Some reports say it was a remnant of the 2011 NATO bombing campaign while others say a remnant of recent fighting between the so-called Islamic State (IS) and Misrata-led Buyan Marsous forces.
A week ago, a father and two of his children were injured when a landmine went off outside their house.
Similarly, three children were hurt last week when they threw 32 calibre bullets onto a fire, which then exploded and caused minor injuries.
In a separate incident, local militiamen found the graves of three people east of Sirte today. NGOs active in the region said they were discovered in buildings destroyed by conflict.
