[Ngo-lwg] Deadly attack on de-miners in Afghanistan

Chuck Searcy chuckusvn at gmail.com
Thu Jun 12 10:33:48 ICT 2014


UN News Centre
<http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=48011#.U5keGig6Q9t>
UN in Afghanistan condemns deadly attack on de-miners in central region in
Afghanistan condemns deadly attack on de-miners in central region
*Demining engineer of the Mine Action Programme of Afghanistan clears an
anti-personnel landmine. UN Photo/UNMACA*
<http://static.un.org/News/dh/photos/large/2012/April/185319-landmines.jpg>

10 June 2014 – The top United Nations official in Afghanistan today
condemned the killing of eight Afghan de-miners and the wounding of another
three in an attack in what remains one of the most heavily mined countries
in the world.

“De-miners carry out vital work in Afghanistan – they help make the country
safer for their fellow civilians and, as such, any violence which targets
them is particularly reprehensible,” said
<http://unama.unmissions.org/Default.aspx?tabid=12254&ctl=Details&mid=15756&ItemID=38031&language=en-US>
the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of
UNAMA, Ján Kubiš.

According to reports, the de-miners were working for the Mine Detection
Centre (MDS), a non-governmental organization and implementing partner of
the UN-supported Mine Action Coordination Centre of Afghanistan (MACCA).

They were clearing an area of the Tobakai desert in the Mohammad Agha
district of Logar province, in the country’s central region, when
anti-Government elements reportedly detonated an improvised explosive
device (IED) and then ambushed them.

“Attacks directed against civilians are serious violations of international
humanitarian law, which parties to armed conflict – including all
anti-Government elements – must uphold,” UNAMA stressed.

The UN Mission has extended its condolences to the families of those killed
and wished the wounded a speedy recovery.

“The widespread and indiscriminate use of mines and munitions during more
than 30 years of conflict has led to Afghanistan being one of the most
heavily mined countries in the world,” MACCA reported.

According to the Centre’s figures, the country still has over 4,500 areas,
covering some 521 square kilometres of land, contaminated with mines and
explosive remnants of war, despite progress in de-mining efforts.


*CHUCK SEARCY*

*M    +8 490 342 0769*

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