Large-scale demining projects to start soon

The widespread use of landmines in Angola's decades-long civil war remains a major obstacle to the resumption of normal life after the conflict, the UN has said. In response, the UN launched its global Portfolio of Mine Action Projects 2004 in New York on Wednesday, to give "a unique picture of the urgent requirements for mine action activities in Angola and 35 other mine-affected countries". "Landmines have disabled one in 415 Angolans and are a stark reminder that war does not end when the guns fall silent," a UN statement said. At a time of massive movement of populations – more than three million Angolans have returned to their homes – landmines continue "to deny returnees access to land for agriculture, safe water sources and damage their immediate hopes for normalcy". The issue has been made a priority in the country. "The government has demonstrated a higher level of engagement and political will through the activities developed by the National Intersectoral Commission for Demining and Humanitarian Assistance (CNIDAH), which aim to coordinate and regulate the mine action sector in Angola," the UN noted. The primary goals for Angola in the 2004 Portfolio are to enable the reintegration and sustainable livelihood of the population, improve coordination among partners in the sector, and gradually expand and sustain mine action operational activities. "At national level, the 2004 Mine Action Portfolio for Angola was coordinated by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in close partnership with the CNIDAH, UNICEF (UN Children's Fund), WHO (World Health Organisation), mine action NGOs and OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs)," the UN said. The 2004 portfolio presents the strategies and objectives for a total of 32 projects costing US $24.7 million, proposed by partners for dealing with the mine menace in Angola.