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Home | News | LIBYA APPEAL

• LIBYA: New awareness-raising song warns children of explosive weapons risk
• MAG welcomes Iraq's ratification of the Convention on Cluster Munitions
• VIETNAM: The people forced into a deadly business
• Landmine/UXO clearance and education in South Sudan
• IRAQ: Development project brings a 'dead place' to life
• ANGOLA: A village free of landmines
• VIETNAM: Clearing landmines, bringing smiles
• VIDEO: 'Surviving the Peace: Angola'
• Arms Trade Treaty is a huge step in the right direction
• PHOTO GALLERY: South Sudan 2013

Sulah’s three-year-old sister found a hand grenade...

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Ajdabiya, Libya. Shada Yonis brought a live grenade into the living room where her family and some children from next door were watching television. 

She pulled out the arming pin. Her father grabbed it and tried to save those present by shielding the grenade with his body. The power of the blast killed him, Shada and her five-year-old friend instantly.

In the photograph of accident scene at the bottom of the page, the shape of Sulah's father where he took the shrapnel is clearly visible.

Eight-year-old Sulah (above) survived, but suffered serious internal injuries, which required a series of operations.

Sulah's uncle, pictured with him, said: "This is such a tragedy. Two families have been devastated. Children don't know any better and I hope this horrible incident will be a lesson to others. I am glad MAG is here to clear these bombs and things. It has been so terrible."

Libya slideshow: Conflict response

Survivors said that forces loyal to Colonel Gaddafi had occupied the house and used it to store ammunition. The family thought they had cleared all of the remaining munitions.

MAG has already removed more than 8,000 items of unexploded ordnance and landmines in the country since April – but we need your help to do more.

Please donate to the Libya Appeal below. Thank you.

 

Click below to donate by debit card. Please write "Libya appeal" in the message box.

The accident scene. Clearly visible, around the shadow of the photographer, is the shape of Sulah's father where he took the shrapnel as he shielded his children from the hand grenade blast.