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MAG established its program in Sri Lanka in 2002 to support conflict recovery through the removal and landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO). Sri Lanka has been affected by civil war for many years and the most recent conflict between the government and the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (Tamil Tigers), has left serious mine and UXO contamination, particularly in the northern region. MAG's work is essential to the rehabilitation and development of the country and the resettlement of Internally Displaced People (IDPs). MAG trains national staff to manage and conduct operations, aiming to develop a sustainable mine/UXO program.
MAG addresses the threat from mines and UXO through the following activities:
- Community Liaison (CL) teams work with community members to identify the threat and prioritize action.
- Emergency survey and demining teams work in northern Sri Lanka to facilitate the recovery and development process.
- Mechanical flail teams identify mined land and safe areas.
- Mine Risk Education (MRE) teams provide threat briefings to affected communities and relief agencies, enabling them to reduce risky behavior.
MAG's survey and land release efforts have been declared a key prerequisite for the safe movement of over 180,000 IDPs back to their homes. This initiative is essential to reaching the national target of resettling approximately 80 percent of displaced people by the end of 2009.
Villagers have been able to return to their homes and resume their lives in safety.
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27 years of conflict have left their mark on the geography and the people of Sri Lanka. Wary of mines, villagers from Marathanmadhu village in the north had left their homes in 2007. After the end of the conflict in 2008, villagers wanted to return home but feared the threat of landmines. Sixty-year-old Mr. Soosai Marathin showed MAG workers around his village to indicate areas of suspected contamination. Following a survey conducted by MAG, Marathanmadhu was declared low risk, and the villagers were able to return to their homes and resume their lives in safety. |