Germany donates demining units

Guinea-Bissau’s government received 10 demining units from Germany on 28 September at a ceremony held for former combatants, OCHA said in its most recent report. Mines were laid during last year’s military uprising in Guinea- Bissau, even though the parties to the conflict had signed the Ottawa convention banning the use of land mines, the German first secretary noted at the ceremony. Seven mine accidents were recorded in the capital, Bissau, in April and May 1999 and, in mid-September, a UN team spotted an anti-personnel mine on the road near Fulacunda (Quinara Region) and notified the appropriate authorities, OCHA reported. Mine awareness activities are underway in the area.