 |
|
This Iraqi family can now grow fruit and vegetables on land cleared by MAG. |
• An average of 14 people are killed or injured by every day by remnants of conflict1. ['Remnants of conflict' includes anti-personnel and anti-vehicle mines, ammunition, abandoned and unexploded ordnance, and small arms and light weapons.]
• MAG is a humanitarian organisation clearing the remnants of conflict for the benefit of communities worldwide.
• MAG is co-laureate of the 1997 Nobel Peace Prize awarded for our work with the International Campaign to Ban Landmines.
• MAG clears the remnants of conflict from some of the world’s poorest nations. MAG has worked in 35 countries since 1989. These include: Afghanistan, Angola, Burundi, Cambodia, Chad, Colombia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Gaza, Iraq, Lao P.D.R., Lebanon, Pakistan, Puntland State of Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan and Vietnam. [Click on country for more information and case studies about our work there]
• For MAG, the emphasis is not on the number of items removed or number of square metres cleared, but we strategically concentrate the activities where the impact will benefit the communities the most.
• Clearance of these obstacles leads to: safe access to water, shelter and food; safer movement of population, internally displaced persons or refugees; safer routes between communities creating potential for new or renewed trade; safe land for agricultural development and farming; safe land for construction or reconstruction of housing, schools, health centres and other infrastructure; boosting the local economy through the employment of national staff from the affected communities.
• Where there’s armed conflict, or a threat to peace, there’s a need for recovery or prevention.
• MAG educates and employs local people. More than 90 per cent of our global workforce of around 2,300 are local staff employed and trained in-country. This keeps salaries within some of the world's poorest communities.
• MAG integrates our operations with development and poverty issues. [Read more on MAG's Development impact]
• MAG was the first humanitarian agency to employ women, landmine survivors and amputees as ‘deminers’.
• Our aim is to prioritise the need through talking to those in need.
• Mine Risk Education is conducted in almost all the countries where MAG works. It teaches communities to recognise the dangers and what safe actions they can take. [Visit our Mine Risk Education page for more information]
• More than 90 per cent of all funds coming into MAG is spent directly on clearance programmes.
• MAG was supported by the late Diana, Princess of Wales; she understood that while political issues continue dangerous items need to be removed.
1 Landmine and Cluster Munition Monitor identified at least 5,197 casualties caused by mines, explosive remnants of war and victim-activated improvised explosive devices in 2008 [www.the-monitor.org].
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
