The Ethiopian mines project has cleared over 30,375 anti-personnel landmines and 539 anti-vehicle landmines during the last six weeks, a government statement received by IRIN has claimed. Ethiopia has alleged that Eritrea laid more than 100,000 mines during its occupation of Badme and surrounding areas.
Project leader, Major Yirdaw Gebre-Anenya, said the demining was carried out in an area stretching across 100 km. Ethiopian television said 60 to 70 people had been killed by mines in the region, while Yirdaw said that - despite a target of clearing 1,000 mines a day - stretches of farmland in the area would remain idle during the main 'Meher' harvest season coming
up.
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
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