United Nations Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (Kinshasa)
Eoin Young
4 April 2008
International Mine Action Day was celebrated on Friday 4 April 2008 in Kinshasa, where speeches and expositions explained the nature of the problem in the DRC. DRC suffers greatly from anti personnel mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO), which hamper economic development and maim and kill hundreds in the DRC every year.
In attendance was the Deputy Special Representative to the UN Secretary General in the DRC Mr. Ross Mountain, DRC Minister for the Interior Mr. Denis Kalume, as well as representatives from UNMACC - the UN Mine Action Coordination Centre, UNICEF, UNHCR, and national and international de-mining NGOs.
Mine Advisory Group (MAG) country director Mr. Marc Angibeaud explained the international community's de-mining efforts in the DRC, effected through the international NGOs of MAG, Handicap International and Danish Church Aid.
With a combined staff of 370 people, these three international NGOs have cleared the Congolese countryside of thousands of anti personnel mines and UXO, primarily in the provinces of Equateur, Maniema, Katanga and South Kivu.
They have also trained many Congolese in de-mining and sensitised many communities across the DRC on the dangers of anti personnel mines and UXO. Though many thousand square kilometers of terrain has been de-mined in the DRC, much work remains to be done.
De-mining is a costly and time consuming exercise, which is hampered by a lack of infrastructure in the country. Remaining challenges include: mined areas remain to be surveyed and mapped, physical and psychological assistance to mine victims is inadequate, sensibilisation campaigns need to be increased to warn people of the dangers, and DRC mine legislation needs to be created.
Deputy Special Representative to the UN Secretary General in the DRC Mr. Ross Mountain said the anti personnel mines and UXO continue to be a menace to the security, health and lives of innocent people across the DRC.
"Millions in the DRC continue to live with the daily fear of being killed or disabled. Today is an occasion to measure the progress accomplished; much has been done but a lot of challenges remain," he explained.
DRC Interior Minister Mr. Kalume said that the DRC was committed to fulfilling its obligations under the Ottawa (Mine Ban) treaty, which they ratified in 2002.
"Legislation regarding the rights of victims to assistance is being conceived. However a focal point will be created for the coordination of this issue, and we will work closely with our international partners so that national competency in this area can be achieved," he said.
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