Sudan vows to get rid of landmines by 2014
Mar 7, 2006 (KHARTOUM) — Sudanese are fighting an uphill war against dangers posed by landmines and unexploded remnants of the civil war, Sudan’s President Omer Al-Bashir said on Tuesday.
Addressing the first meeting of Sudan’s National Organ for Combating Landmines, al-Bashir said his government is committed to cooperating with all local and international organizations to make the country free of landmines by 2014.
“We are working through national strategy and programs to formulate the necessary frameworks and legislation to increase awareness of landmine dangers, demining operations and welfare of the affected persons,” he said.
The president said he had ordered related governmental departments to double efforts to develop national capabilities of combating mines in Sudan.
He also called on the international society, the United Nations and donor countries to provide technical and material assistance to Sudan in its fight against landmine danger.
Sudan has been struggling to clear out millions of mines left by the 21-year civil war which came to an end in January 2005 with the signature of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement between Sudanese government and former southern rebel group, the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement.
Despite stepped-up efforts, only 100 out of 646 areas in southern Sudan have been cleaned up so far.
(Xinhua)