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Colombia: Mine Clearance

Answer

The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the UNICEF Portfolio of Mine Action 2005, reports mines and unexploded ordnance affecting 542 of the country’s 1,119 municipalities, across 30 of its 32 departments. The portfolio also reports that the Colombian Government, civil society organisations and international organisations including UNICEF, the UNDP and UNMAS are working together through the National MINE Action Plan (2002–06).The UK Government support the Mine Action Strategy advocated in the Portfolio of Mine Action 2005. This includes an objective by 2006 of promoting, co-ordinating and monitoring the implementation of the National Mine Action Plan at a national level, with an emphasis on six prioritised provinces. This is undertaken through the national observatory for mine action and would be expected to include effective verification of de-mining in these provinces. The Colombian Government’s four-year national development plan features mine action as an important government priority, and as signatory to the Mine Ban Treaty they have put in place various initiatives to address the problem. Wherever it is possible to increase clearance efforts this should be commended. However, the decision on where to prioritise mine action is for the national authority.DfID has provided £1 million this financial year to UNICEF for mine risk education globally and under this arrangement UNICEF has been assisting Colombia with the development of a plan for mine risk education as well as providing a consultant to assist the national observatory for mine action.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

3146; 677 c55-6WA

Session

2005-06

Subjects

Development aid Bomb disposal Landmines Verification Colombia

Contains statistics

Yes

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk