UNIFIL Marks International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action
The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon marked on Monday the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.
At a ceremony at UNIFIL Sector West headquarters in Shamaa, Force Commander Major General Alberto Asarta Cuevas highlighted UNIFIL’s contribution to the effort of de-mining and its impact on helping ensure safer and more prosperous lives for the people of southern Lebanon.
“De-mining activities critically contribute to reduce poverty, raise standards of living and improve lives,” Asarta said.
“Land cleared of mines and unexploded ordnance is now being cultivated, bringing social and economic benefits to the local population,” he added.
Demonstrations of improvised explosive device disposal, as well as static exhibits of explosive ordnance disposal and de-mining equipment, were organized by de-miners from UNIFIL’s Belgian, Cambodian, Chinese, French, Italian and Spanish contingents.
Mine awareness boards were displayed in UNIFIL compounds in Naqoura and Shamaa, and mine awareness leaflets were distributed to residents of Marjayoun, Bint Jbeil, Heniyah, and Marwahin.
During 2002–2008, mine clearance in southern Lebanon was coordinated by the United Nations Mine Action Coordination Center of Southern Lebanon (UNMACC-SL) as a partnership between the United Nations and the Lebanese army.
With the transition of coordination authority to the Lebanon Mine Action Centre (LMAC) since January 2009, UNMACC-SL experts now work as an integral part of UNIFIL’s de-mining efforts.
As a part of this coordinated effort, UNIFIL de-mining teams have since 2006 contributed to de-mining around 4.8 million square meters of affected land and destroyed more than 34,000 unexploded ordnance and mines in southern Lebanon.
UNIFIL regularly conducts activities aimed at raising awareness of the population to the dangers of landmines and other explosive remnants of war.
Mine infestation remains a challenge in southern Lebanon with unexploded ordnance, particularly cluster munitions, left over from the 2006 July war, claiming 28 civilian lives and 263 civilian injuries in the area since the end of the conflict.
During mine clearance operations, 14 de-miners including two from UNIFIL have been killed and 49 injured, including five UNIFIL de-miners.
Landmines and explosive remnants of war continue to impact the lives of thousands of people each year in more than 65 countries.
This year's commemoration highlights the work of the mine action sector to save lives and protect livelihoods and celebrate the vigorous movement towards the United Nations vision of a world free from the threat of landmines and explosive remnants of war.
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