Sudan seeks help to clear minefields
NAIROBI, Kenya, Dec 2, 2004 (PANA) — Sudan on Thursday appealed for assistance to clear huge tracks of land infested with landmines sp as to reduce the cost of humanitarian aid and facilitate the safe return of refugees.
Sudan’s Humanitarian Affairs Minister Ibrahim Mohammed Hamid told the Nairobi Summit on a Mine Free World that his country was Africa’s most mine affected country, which hampered the utilisation of its massive natural resources.
“We have made progress in destroying the landmines. We signed a
tripartite agreement with the Sudan Peoples Liberation Movement
(SPLA/M), the UN and the Sudan government in 2002 and we have
signed a common mine action strategy with the SPLA,” Hamid said.
“Efforts are going on to remove landmines and explosives which
have infested three million square kilometres. We have removed
256,000 anti-personnel mines designed to maim human beings and
anti-tank mines-designed destroy vehicles,” Hamid said.
Due to the massive presence of these dangerous weapons, many
roads are unsafe, farmlands unusable and some four million
refugees are scaews to return home.
The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) estimates that
landmines are planted on 800,000 sq km of land in 21 of Sudan’s
26 states.
A combined UN humanitarian appeal for Sudan5 launched on Tuesday
requested donors to provide US$1.5 billion, of which $57 million
would be for boosting current landmine clearance work, said UNMAS
Director Martin Barber.
“If that money was received, it would be a huge investment that
will help reduce the cost of the other aid programs, which
include so much for transport by air,” said UNMAS Director Martin
at a news conference at the Nairobi Summit.
Aid costs in Sudan have ballooned because of the newer conflict
which erupted in February 2003 in the western Darfur region. The
UN has described that hot spot as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis. Drought and disease have magnified the impact of both.
UNMAS says that nearly 2,700 Sudanese have been victimised by
landmines or unexploded ordnance over the last five years. But it estimates that as many as 10,000 could have been killed, since
many cases are unreported.
Meanwhile, Jurkuch Barach, executive director of the New Sudan
Mine Action Directorate, the SPLM anti-mine agency, says refugees cannot return to southern Sudan until mines are cleared.
“There will be no development, there will be no agricultural
preparation done in these areas if mines are not removed,” he
said, adding peace will not be restored unless the mines are
removed.
Two weeks ago, the SPLM and the Sudanese government pledged to finalise by 31 December a peace accord that has dragged for several years.
“We think landmines will be the biggest challenge facing us after the signing of the peace,” the Sudanese Minister said.
Sudan ratified the mine ban treaty last year and the SPLM has
signed a deed of commitment, which essentially mirrors the
landmine ban. This is aimed at armed groups that are not part of any nation and therefore not subject to the ban.