MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Downer
I am pleased to announce funding of $500 000 for Afghanistan's demining
program. This additional support from Australia will help prevent this highly
successful demining program from scaling back its operations due to a lack of
funds.
These funds will support both United Nations and Non Government Organisations
directly involved in the demining program.
In Afghanistan, one of the most heavily mined countries in the world, an
estimated ten million land mines kill or maim 10 Afghans each day.
Established with Australian technical and financial assistance in 1989, the
demining program, now known as the United Nations Mine Action Program (UNMAP),
is regarded as one of the most efficient in the world. The cost of destroying a
mine fell from 300 US dollars in 1990 to 110 US dollars in 1994-95.
With about 90% of Afghanistan's mined areas in agricultural fields,
irrigation canals and grazing areas, the country's economic recovery is not
possible until the mines are removed.
Since the United Nations administered program began, mines have been cleared
from more than 117 square kilometres of high priority, contaminated land and 110
square kilometres of former battlefield.
In 1996/97 AusAID, the Australian Agency for International Development,
provided $500 000 for mine awareness activities. While this program is working
well, without essential donor funding, the more costly UNMAP mine clearance work
is facing a funding crisis.
The Government's additional contribution will allow 3 teams of 30 deminers to
continue working in Afghanistan's most heavily mined region, Kandahar Province,
until the end of the year.
Media Contact: Innes Willox (Minister's Office) 02 6277 7500
/ 0411 414 695 Mark Giffard (AusAID) 02 6206 4966