<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:verdana,sans-serif"><font><a href="http://www.un.org/apps/news/story.asp?NewsID=48011#.U5keGig6Q9t">UN News Centre</a></font><br></div><div><h4 id="story-headline">
<font size="4">UN in Afghanistan condemns deadly attack on de-miners in central region</font></h4><h4 id="story-headline"> in Afghanistan condemns deadly attack on de-miners in central region</h4><div id="PhotoHolder3"><a rel="gallery-default" href="http://static.un.org/News/dh/photos/large/2012/April/185319-landmines.jpg" id="PhotoCrop" class="" title="Demining engineer of the Mine Action Programme of Afghanistan clears an anti-personnel landmine. UN Photo/UNMACA"><img style="margin-top: -24px;" src="http://static.un.org/News/dh/photos/large/2012/April/185319-landmines.jpg" title="Demining engineer of the Mine Action Programme of Afghanistan clears an anti-personnel landmine. UN Photo/UNMACA" border="1"><b><font size="1">Demining engineer of the Mine Action Programme of Afghanistan clears an anti-personnel landmine. UN Photo/UNMACA</font></b></a></div>
<p>
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. </p><p>
“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,” <a href="http://unama.unmissions.org/Default.aspx?tabid=12254&ctl=Details&mid=15756&ItemID=38031&language=en-US">said</a> the Secretary-General’s Special Representative for Afghanistan and head of UNAMA, Ján Kubiš. </p>
<p>
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).</p><p>
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. </p><p>
“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.</p><p>
The UN Mission has extended its condolences to the families of those killed and wished the wounded a speedy recovery.</p><p>
“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.</p><p>
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.</p><font size="1"><b><span style="color:rgb(116,27,71)"><i><br>CHUCK SEARCY<br></i></span></b></font></div><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div><font size="1"><b><span style="color:rgb(116,27,71)"><i>M +8 490 342 0769<br>
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