UN Secretary General: “The assistance of IRU has contributed to a safer and more secure Afghanistan”
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Tag Archives: UNMAS
Godar village, previous frontline between Taliban and Northern Alliance, now mine-free
Ahmad Shah (left), a local villager, discusses the benefits of mine clearance with a deminer
Ahmad Shah, a local resident of Godar, leads a visitor around his village, pointing out patches of land where minefields once existed. Godar is located in an area of Parwan province that suffered heavy fighting between the Taliban and the Northern Alliance in 1999. The clashes left lands contaminated with anti-personnel and anti-tank mines as well as unexploded ordinance (UXO), seriously hampering economic and agricultural activities. Continue reading
Afghanistan success story. Potentially a million casualties saved by effective, targeted, well planned mine action
Newly appointed UNMAS Programme Unit Chief, Paul Heslop, visits MACCA
The newly-appointed United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) Programme Unit Chief, Paul Heslop, visited the Mine Action Coordination Center of Afghanistan (MACCA) for four days in November to reaffirm UNMAS’ commitment to the project and witness activities first-hand. Continue reading
Benefits of mine clearance are visible in communities
- Wasiqullah, left, a resident of Salang district answering questions from an ATC representative
In 1984, Ahangaran and Gamandy villages of Salang district became contaminated with anti-personnel mines, which killed and maimed scores of people in the area. Villagers still remember the deaths of a 35 year old man and an elderly woman, and a serious injury suffered by a 30 year old man.
After Russian forces pulled out from Afghanistan, demining NGOs began work all over Afghanistan to clear areas from the threat of mines. 
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Villagers get multiple benefits from grazing lands after mine clearance
“The presence of mines and explosive remnants of war created many problems for us during the past decades civil war. At that time we were not able to graze our animals and collect firewood from the nearby hills and mountains,” said Najibullah, resident of Sare – Tunnel village of Khinjan district, Baghlan province.
The main income for the area comes from animal husbandry and collecting firewood, so mine clearance helps villagers earn a higher income and lead safer lives. Continue reading
Mine clearance has positive effects on local economies
“One of the ways to strengthen our economy is to graze our animals, collect dairy from them and sell it to local markets, but only if that village has been cleared from mines and unexploded ordnance.”
Shir Agha, resident of Doshakh village
Mine clearance moves communities one step closer to a safe and normal life
The primary source of income for Doshakh village is animal husbandry and the collection of firewood and bushes to sell and use in daily life. The village and surrounding areas, including grazing land, were contaminated with mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) during the Soviet occupation.
