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UN Mine Action Service warns explosive remnants are slowing recovery, urges donors to back tech and clearance
Summary
UN Mine Action Service officials told reporters that explosive remnants of war in Afghanistan, Ukraine and other conflicts are causing civilian casualties, blocking recovery and require urgent funding and investment in technology; UNMAS detailed country needs and pilot costs.
United Nations Mine Action Service officials on a press briefing said explosive remnants of war are blocking recovery and costing lives, and urged increased donor funding and investment in new technologies to speed clearance.
Kazumi Ogawa, the newly appointed director of the UN Mine Action Service, opened the briefing by saying the service’s work "is driven by the needs of the community" and that mine action "saves lives, protects civilians, enables peacekeepers to operate in safety and facilitates the delivery of humanitarian aid." She noted UNMAS also advocates for international humanitarian and human-rights law and supports national authorities to build local capacity.
Nick Pond, chief of the Mine Action Section in the United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan, said Afghanistan has "the third highest explosive-ordnance casualty rate in the world, with around 50 people killed or injured every month," and that nearly 80% of those casualties are children. He described a Feb. 12 incident in…
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