Afghanistan: UN, Government to boost help for mine victims

The United Nations Mine Action Centre for Afghanistan (UNMACA) today announced a new agreement with the Government paving the way for increased assistance to victims injured by the indiscriminate weapons.

The 9 June pact signed with the Ministry of Public Health will boost support for the integration of disabilities issues into public health services, the UN said in a news release today.

Under a separate agreement, UNMACA will support the Ministry of Education with an awareness raising strategy on landmines within schools and communities, including providing risk education information and promoting inclusive education for children with disabilities.

Since 1989, UNMACA has been coordinating activities of the Mine Action Programme for Afghanistan (MAPA), including survey, mine clearance, battlefield clearance, mine awareness, and supporting mine victims throughout the country. The programme has cleared more than 1 billion square meters area, destroyed more than 323,000 anti-personnel, 18,500 antitank mines and more than 7 million pieces of unexploded ordnance.