MaximsNewsNetwork: AFGHANISTAN: LANDMINE AWARENESS DAY (UNAMA)
- Duration: 1:43
- Published: 07 Apr 2010
- Uploaded: 16 Aug 2010
- Author: MaximsNewsNetwork
MaximsNewsNetwork: 05 April 2010 - UNAMA: Afghanistan - Dozens of de-miners wearing blue uniforms and face-protecting helmets commemorated the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action with local, United Nations and United States officials in Afghanistan today (4 April). More than 10000 deminers and associated staff work in Afghanistan implementing the UN-supported the Mine Action Programme of Afghanistan (MAPA); about 40 Afghans a month are now injured or killed by mines, about one quarter the number for 2002. De Mistura, who was involved with clearing areas of mines for the return of Afghan refugees when he worked in the country 22 years ago, noted that since then, more than 15000 minefields and battlefields, have been cleared, and millions of Afghans have received mine risk education throughout the country. He told the crowd gathered at the compound of the Organization for Mine Clearance and Afghan Rehabilitation (OMAR) that Afghanistan is no longer a problem but is an example when it came to the clearance of mines. De Mistura joined Abdul Martin Adrak, general director of the Afghanistan Natural Disaster Management Authority, United States Ambassador Karl Eikenberry and Canadian Ambassador William Crosbie in saluting deminers and other mine action staff at the ceremony. One of the Afghan deminers who works for OMAR said that despite the dangers of the job, it is his honor to do it to save the lives of our people from mines. Five demining <b>...</b>