MEDIA RELEASE
Released By:
Smith
Australia will provide $5 million to help mine clearance efforts in Afghanistan, including survivor assistance.
United Nations Secretary General, Ban Ki-moon, recently requested additional funding to support UN mine clearing efforts in Afghanistan to enable more land to be returned to local communities.
Australia is happy to play its part.
Afghanistan remains one of the world's most mine‑affected countries. Landmines and other explosive remnants of war cause many casualties, with more than 60 Afghan people continuing to fall victim every month. These devices also pose formidable challenges to Afghanistan's reconstruction and development.
Today's announcement is in addition to the $12.5 million provided by Australia since 2007 to support mine action in Afghanistan.
In a very difficult environment the Mine Action Program has been a significant success, reducing casualties by 50 per cent since 2004. The program has a 20-year history, during which time more than 1,500 square kilometres of land has been returned to local communities.
In Oruzgan province, where the Australian Defence Force is located, a community-based mine clearance project is underway, including risk education and the training of mine clearers.
Many areas along the border with Pakistan, where returning Afghan refugees are at high-risk of mine-related accidents, have now been cleared. This will release land to local communities for agriculture, pasture, housing and reconstruction projects.
Our support underlines Australia's commitment to improve the safety and security of the Afghan people and to help Afghanistan become a viable and stable member of the international community.
Australia is a leading contributor to mine clearance, mine risk education and survivor assistance having committed $75 million to mine action globally from 2005 to 2010.