In Mozambique, so far the only country in the world where demining has continued without any interruption for more than ten years, the commemorations also comprised public exhibitions and a national-wide media campaign with video documentaries, radio and television interviews as well as roundtables with mine action stakeholders.

Speaking to the donor community, operators, media and civil society organizations representatives in Maputo, the Mozambican Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Mr. Henrique Banze, stressed that by including the mine action as a cross-cutting issue in the Five Year Government Plan 2005-2009, Mozambique is showing its commitment to comply with the total ban of landmines in the world.

“I would like to take this opportunity to commend the mine action stakeholders”, Mr. Banze added, “especially the deminers themselves who have been putting their lives at risk on a day-to-day basis for the benefit of all. In this regard,” he said, “I am also here to express the commitment of the Mozambican Government to the continuation of disability assistance programmes not only aimed at the rehabilitation but the socio-economic reintegration of the victims of landmines.”

On his turn, UNDP Resident Representative a.i., Mr. Gana Fofang, used the opportunity to congratulate the Mozambican Government for the remarkable achievements in the past ten years. He commended the Government for integrating the mine action activities as a priority within the national planning tools and budget processes and reiterated UNDP support to the Mozambican people in order to eradicate the landmines as soon as possible.

According to the National Demining Institute records, about 260 million square meters of the territory have been cleared over the ten past years and more than 149 thousand mines have been destroyed as well as a large number of unexploded ordnances

These results had a tremendous socio-economic impact in the country, especially in rural areas. The access of people to safe water, schools and health post has dramatically increased. Due to the mine action programmes, thousands of peasants are returning home to work in the farms and using safe roads for exchanges.

For more than ten years, UNDP has been working with the government on demining. Initially all actions were part of the emergency programme. Gradually, the country has been integrating demining in the development agenda. Mozambique was one of the first countries to sign the convention banning land mines and also participates in all the important international meetings on the issue.

With a record of excellent land mine awareness work, which has massively reduced impact of mine incidents, Mozambique has been sending trainers to Bosnia, Angola, Sudan and Afghanistan. The country’s leading role in the Ottawa Treaty Process included the hosting of the First Meeting of States Parties to the Mine Ban Treaty, held in Maputo in 1999. The Government also agreed on clearing all mines from its territory by 2009.

For more information, please contact Nelson Xavier, UNDP Public Information Officer.

Mobile phone: + 258 82 314060

Office + 258 01 481438

E-mail: nelson.xavier@undp.org

UNDP is the UN’s global development network, advocating for change and connecting countries to knowledge, experience and resources to help people build a better life. We are on the ground in 166 countries, working with them on their own solutions to global and national development challenges. As they develop local capacity, they draw on the people of UNDP and our wide range of partners.