National mining survey to begin next year

A national landmine survey is to begin in Mozambique next year in an initiative to improve the effectiveness of demining programmes in the country. The Canadian International Demining Centre (CIDC) will undertake the survey with funding being provided by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). A spokesman for the CIDC in Maputo told IRIN on Wednesday that “the survey had the general objective of gathering, analysing and disseminating information on the general location of known and suspected mine areas throughout Mozambique, and assessing their socio-economic impact on affected populations and development activities and policies.” He said the information gathered would be used by the National Demining Institute of Mozambique (CND) as step towards prioritising areas for demining and by other organisations for development-related planning. The spokesman said that the CIDC hoped to complete the survey within one year, starting in January 2000. He said 900 localities will be visited, most of which are thought to be affected by landmines. “A sample of communities that are believed to be mine free will also be checked,” the spokesman added. “The preparation, mobilisation and the training of Mozambican personnel has been under way since early this year.” The information collected will be entered into a database, which will then be linked to a geographical information system (GIS). The results of the survey will include accumulated data, maps and analysis. This information will then help to establish the approximate locations of known and suspected mine areas, identify and rank the impact of landmines on people, and facilitate future allocations of resources for mine action and development programmes. According to the 1999 Landmine Monitor Report, published by the International Campaign to Ban Landmines (ICBL), the CND estimates there are 500,000 mines in Mozambique. The report added that the most heavily mined regions were along the border with Zimbabwe, in the west of Manica Province, in the centre of the country in Zambezia and Tete provinces, and Southern Maputo and Inhambane provinces. In February 1997 the Mozambican government announced the immediate ban on the use, production, import and export of landmines. In December that year the government signed the international Mine Ban Treaty.