According to Zimbabwe Mine Action Centre, about 2, 5 million landmines can still be found along the border. The mines were laid in the 1970s during the liberation war by the Rhodesian Forces.
“The International Committee of the Red Cross is concerned about the situation because mines kill and maim civilians without distinction,” said ICRC spokesperson, Tendayi Sengwe.
“Since February 2012, we have equipped ZIMAC’s anti-personnel mine disposal teams with 50 sets of mine detection and safety equipment as well as training personnel on current humanitarian demining procedures and techniques.”
Sengwe added that ZIMAC medical teams had also been trained on trauma response and had assisted in the operationalisation of the new National Mine Action Standards.
The ICRC has been working with ZIMAC since last year to improve the safety, quality and productivity of the survey and humanitarian demining operations in Zimbabwe.
Following the passing of the Anti-personnel Mines (Prohibition) Act by Parliament in 2000, the government was required to ensure the removal and destruction of these mines within 10 years.
Sengwe said ICRC complemented the government’s work to clear landmines under the obligations arising from the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention of 1998 which Zimbabwe agreed to.
“Zimbabwe is required to have completed a full survey of areas it still has to demine by February 2015 and ICRC is giving legal and technical support depending,” he said.
Post published in: News