European Commission pledges over $10 million for UN mine clearing efforts in Afghanistan

The European Commission has pledged over $10 million to the United Nations Mine Action Service for its work in Afghanistan – a move that was immediately hailed by a senior UN official.

“This contribution from the European Commission confirms the strong commitment of the European Union to support the efforts of the United Nations in the field of humanitarian mine action,” said the Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations, Jean-Marie Guéhenno.

As an initial contribution, the European Commission has donated more than $8 million to support Afghan and international non-governmental organizations (NGOs) carrying out de-mining operations. The money will also be used to strengthen the overall coordination of mine action in Afghanistan.