Germany donates 70 mine detectors to Ethiopia

By Tesfa-alem Tekle

August 30, 2008 (ADDIS ABABA) — The government of Germany donated 70 mine detectors worth 157,600 Euros to the Ethiopian Mine Action Office (EMAO) to support Ethiopia’s ongoing efforts in clearing the dangerous land mines in the Afar, Somali and Tigray states.

During the handing over ceremony, Germany embassy’s deputy head of mission, Peter Fahrenholtz, said that Germany suffered a lot from the mine incidents in the aftermath of the Second World War.

“We still find bombs dropped from bombers after 60 years during excavation work and we detonate them” Fahrenholtz said adding “Mines are dangerous .farmers can’t plough a land infested with mines EMAO is doing a remarkable operation”

Along with the donation a 3 day technical training was given to 10 trainers on the effective use of the donated devices.

Ethiopian mine action acting director, Gabriel lager to his side said that Ethiopia in line with passed agreements it signed on anti personal mine ban convention and in collaboration with other international bodies have carried out various humanitarian demining and awareness education activities to curb the hazardous consequences of land mines.

During the occasion the Ethiopian official called on the Germany government to further commit its support to the demining efforts of the nation.

Germany’s latest donation has raised the total contribution of mine detectors to Ethiopia over the year to 117, which accounts total sum of 257,000 Euros.

Ethiopia, between January and June successfully cleared 4.9 sq.kms of land and handed over to communities.

(ST)