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MAG's work in Colombia is reducing the risk for people living in areas contaminated by mines and unexploded ordnance, by improving the quality of Mine Risk Education. |
The problem
As a result of more than 40 years of internal conflict, Colombia is one of the most mine-affected countries in the world: in 2008, there was an average of two new victims of landmine and unexploded ordnance (UXO) related accidents every day.
There is a lack of information about where mines are planted, which makes determining the scale of the problem, and how many years are needed for mine clearance, very difficult.
How MAG is helping
In Antioquia Department, reported to be the most mine-affected of the country's 32 departments, MAG is working in partnership with the Colombian Campaign Against Landmines and a local non-governmental organisation, Paz y Democracia (Peace and Democracy).
The work is focused on improving the quality of Mine Risk Education – find out more on Mine Risk Education here – to really target those most at risk.
A campaign called ‘Yo Me Protejo’ – I Protect Myself – has been designed, providing simple, practical information for people living and working in areas contaminated with mines and UXO.
Your donation to MAG helps us to move into current and former conflict zones to clear the remnants of conflict, enabling recovery and assisting the development of affected populations.
Beneficiaries
‘’This is a present for my children and me, a present that will allow them to have a future,’’ said Helga Maria Herrera Gomez, a teacher at El Escobero Primary School after hearing her students commit to taking care of themselves.
Find out more
- MAG Colombia in depth
- Alertnet country profile - Colombia [external link]
- Campaña Colombiana Contra Las Minas (Colombian Campaign Against Landmines) [external link]
MAG would like to express its thanks to the following donor to its Colombia operations: Belgian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
November 2009
www.maginternational.org/colombia
