Written question asked by Norman Lamb (Liberal Democrat) on Thursday, 28 February 2002, in the House of Commons. It was due for an answer on Wednesday, 13 March 2002. It was answered by Clare Short (Labour) on Wednesday, 13 March 2002 on behalf of the Department for International Development.

Dept for International Development

Question: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what progress is being made in clearing (a) landmines and (b) unexploded bomblets from cluster bombs in Afghanistan. - Includes figures.

Answer: Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what progress is being made in clearing (a) land mines and (b) unexploded bomblets from cluster bombs in Afghanistan. [40656] Clare Short: Afghanistan has long been one of the countries most severely affected by land mines and Unexploded Ordnance (UXO). In the year 2000 an average of about 88 mine and UXO casualties were recorded each month. During 2000 a total of approximately 13,500 antipersonnel mines, 600 anti-tank mines and 300,000 items of UXO were destroyed. The onset of hostilities after 11 September meant that mine clearance operations were badly disrupted by the departure of international staff and the threat to the safety of mine action personnel, forcing it to significantly curtail its operations. The Mine Action Programme for Afghanistan (MAPA) is now completing a period of retraining and is resuming operations wherever possible. In many areas mine and unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearance operations have returned close to the level that existed before 11 September. In addition, the process of expanding capacity to address the UXO threat has begun. The priorities for UNMAS in 2002 are the execution of emergency operations throughout the country and a subsequent return to 100 per cent. operational capacity, and to expand mine clearance capacity as resources become available.

Secondary information