WIX Archives
There may be up to 2,000,000 !
Posted by Tony on Sat Oct 20, 2001 09:14:21 AM
In reply top Re: What's still in Libya? posted by Tulio on Sat Oct 20, 2001 12:36:24 AM
Tulio is right.
There are a shedload of mines still in the area, and it is a real problem with local civilians. The area from Sollum backwards, is littered with Mines from WW2. My father was clearing them in 1946-47 using Afrika Corps prisoners. According to the world health organisation, there may be as many as 2,000,000 mines still laid. The Egyptian Government, is constantly lobbying HMG about clearing them, and I believe this was one of the items on the meeting agenda between Tony Blair and Hosni(Fighter Ace) Mubarrak, at their recent meeting.
In addition, there are still very large ammunition dumps in the area, which even though in 46-47 we blew a few up, they do still exist.
As is the way, a lot of airframes, are in the mine belt. Many aircrews were rescued by LRDG road watchers or Cavalry units, who had the routes in and out. The standard aircrew brief in 41-42 was, "If we know roughly where u came down, stay with the aircraft" The mine threat was that bad. The Egyptian Government, has issued several Mine awareness maps, but by their admtittance, it isn't perfect, and even this year, there have been fatalities to local civilians.
Hosni is asking for 5-10,000,000 dollars, to get the area sorted out, and I think it needs to be done.
Tony