World Observes International Mine Awareness and Assistance Day
April 5, 2008
Members of the United Nations observed International Mine Awareness and Assistance Day on April 4th, recognizing Afghanistan as one of the most heavily mined countries on earth despite heavy efforts to demine the country in recent years.
According to the Program Director of the UN Mine Action Center for Afghanistan, Dr. Mohammed Reza, every month sixty people become victims of land mines and explosive remnants of war (ERWs), which include unexploded ordinances such cluster munitions, grenades, and missiles.
Afghanistan signed the international treaty banning land mines, known as the “Ottawa treaty,” in 2003 and aimed to clear all mine fields by 2013. Following the Afghan government’s lead, many international organizations and foreign governments supported demining efforts throughout the country. As a result of the multinational support and cooperation in resolving this crisis, some areas of Afghanistan were cleared and several international humanitarian organizations reported a drop in land mine and ERW casualties.
But a high price was paid for these small successes. According to New York-based news Web site EurasiaNet, more than $200 million was needed to implement demining activities in 2007. In addition to the enormous financial resources required for this endeavor, there is also an irreplaceable human cost – hundreds of deminers have been killed during the course of their work in the last two decades. Deminers also face danger after work – rebels attacked and killed seven deminers in the Kunduz and Jawzjan provinces last month, the Associated Press reported.
Despite the enormous obstacles ahead, experts say the end is in sight. According to Director of the Mine Action Service Max Gaylard, the land mine problem in Afghanistan could be solved in years, not decades, a UN press release quoted him as saying.
In order to reach the goal of eradicating land mines and ERWs from Afghanistan, it is imperative that the international community continue its support. But as CAHR reported earlier, the international community is losing interest in developing Afghanistan. Aid allocated to projects in Afghanistan has not been transferred in a timely manner while NATO troops are fighting increasingly stronger Taliban forces. Nevertheless, improving the quality life of the people of Afghanistan is not only a moral imperative but also of vital importance to international peace and security. The world already saw the consequences of instability in Afghanistan in September 2001.