Landmine survey hampered by lack of staff

A crucial landmine survey is being hampered in Eritrea by a lack of trained experts, the United Nations said on Friday.

The Landmine Impact Survey (LIS) was due to start in the country more than a month ago but so far there is still a shortfall in trained staff. The surveys – which are carried out worldwide - allow UN teams to measure the effectiveness of operations to rid countries of landmines.

Addressing a press conference in the Eritrean capital Asmara, Dave Edwards, a mine expert with the UN Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea (UNMEE), said the surveys were “critical”. He said they were carried out as part of the long-term development of the country. Rather than just identifying the location of landmines, the surveys also analyse the impact on villages and individuals.

But, he added, they were expensive and often held up due to lack of funding. The survey in Eritrea alone costs US $1 million.

“It is an expensive process and probably the hardest part is actually finding the funding to carry it out,” said Edwards, who is the director of operations with the Mine Action Coordination Centre (MACC).

He said that so far the survey had been delayed by more than a month and the situation had still not been resolved.

The Eritrean government is currently compiling names of demobilised soldiers so that they can help. UNMEE will then train the teams to complete the survey.