Wednesday, April 05, 2006

International Day for Mine Awareness

Why aren't landmines banned? Who manufactures and sells them? The UN's mine action office in South Sudan, in a statement issued to mark the first International Day for Mine Awareness, stressed that thousands of landmines were obstructing the implementation of South Sudan's peace deal.

Without demining, reconstruction of roads, schools, hospitals and any other post-war recovery and development project cannot be implemented.

According to UN estimates, 1,800 people have been killed by landmines in the Sudan. Between 15,000 and 20,000 are killed by landmines and unexploded ordnance around the world each year. Some 20 percent of them are children. AFP/ST 5 April 2006.

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