UK pledges more support for mining clearance in Mozambique
24 Jun 2014 03:07 PM
This year the British Government will contribute
a further £1 million to help make Mozambique free of mines by the end of
2014.
As
the Third Review Conference of the Mine Ban Treaty just ended in Maputo, the UK
Government has reiterated its interest to continue supporting Mozambique to
overcome the challenge of being mine-free. UK contribution has been greatly
through the UK Department for International Development funding, since the
1990s, to HALO, a British Charity and the World’s largest demining
organization.
As
the Deputy British High Commissioner to Mozambique, Farida Shaikh, said during
an exposition promoted by HALO, “the UK government has contributed over
£3 million for mine clearance and mine risk education in Mozambique since
2010.” This funding made it possible the complete clearance of
Mozambique’s Northern provinces, the Maputo Power lines as well as the
Cahora Basa Dam minefields.
“The HALO Trusts’ mine clearance has saved
lives, and contributed significantly to peace and stability. And it has also
been crucial for poverty reduction, and promoting Mozambique’s economic
development, including by enabling foreign investment”, she added. And
this year, the British Government will contribute a further £1 million to
the cause and help make Mozambique free of mines by the end of
2014.
Mrs
Shaikh concluded her speech expressing her hope that with all the work that has
been done over the past 21 years and the continued raising of awareness, more
positive change can be achieved “in pursuit of our common
humanity.”
It’s has been fifteen years after the treaty
banning antipersonnel mines entered into force, nearly all landmine use and
production has ceased, new casualties have dropped dramatically, and numerous
countries have removed all mines from their land.
In
many parts of the world, meeting the needs of landmine victims has progressed
but more efforts, resources, and measures are needed in order to help the more
than three dozen states succeed in clearing remaining mined territory by the
end of 2019. That was the aim of the Maputo Conference.