At a landmark ceremony MAG staff in Sudan released an area of land equivalent to 208 football pitches to local leaders, land that will benefit thousands of people.
Close to the border with Eritrea, Kassala in north-eastern Sudan was a site of conflict during Sudan’s 40-year-long civil war and during border skirmishes with Eritrean forces. As a result the land is heavily contaminated, and at least 441 people have been killed or injured by landmines in the region in recent years.
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Signing handover documents at the official ceremony on 29 July. [Photos: MAG Sudan] |
Since October 2008, when work began in Kassala, MAG has cleared more than 750 landmines from the land, which can now be used for building and agriculture, helping the development of communities that have long been suffering due to conflict.
More than 150 people attended the ceremony, including British Ambassador to Sudan Rosalind Marsden, local officials and UN representatives, who watched as MAG staff and members of MAG’s national partner Jasmar – a Sudanese development NGO – officially released the land.
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MAG's indoor minefield demo. |
In total, MAG has cleared four minefields in the region at Al Lafa, Garada and Um Brega. This land, along with that released through technical survey, will return almost 860,000 square metres of cleared land for local people to put to good use.
Cat Mahony, Project Manager in northern Sudan said: “Kassala is the worst affected state in the east of Sudan, and people here have been living in fear of landmines and contaminated land for a long time.
“This fear has stopped them being able to feed their families or farm their land. It’s prevented the building of roads and buildings. People can't enjoy the benefits of the Eastern Peace Agreement, which brought an end to conflict in the region in 2006, until their land is free.
“Now the almost 150,000 residents of this region will be able to put this land to good use and better the quality of their lives.”
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Cat Mahony and Dr Hussein, |
In the week before the ceremony alone, MAG’s teams removed and destroyed 35 anti-tank mines and 39 anti-personnel mines in Kassala, releasing almost 9,500 square metres of land.
Amongst the land cleared is a stretch that has been laid aside, on direct request from Sudanese leader President Omar al-Bashir, to build a road to Eritrea, a sign of how important mine clearance is to increasing peace-building and trade initiatives after conflict.
However, MAG recognises that as well as clearing land people must be taught about the dangers of living in contaminated areas.
“With help from our colleagues in Jasmar we have given Mine Risk Education (MRE) to nearly 4,000 members of the local community here in Kassala,” Cat explained.
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British Ambassador Dr Rosalind Marsden gives her speech. |
“We told them how to spot a mine, what to do if they find one and how to protect themselves against explosions.
This work, funded by the UN Voluntary Trust Fund, is absolutely critical, and will contribute to reducing the number of mine-related casualty figures in this region. With further support from donors we very much hope to continue our work in Kassala, reducing the constant threat to people from mines.”
Links:
- Why does MAG work in Sudan?
- MAG Sudan microsite
- Donate to MAG online - more than 90 per cent of MAG's income is spent directly on clearance programmes
4 August 09
