DUSHANBE, April 5, 2010, Asia-Plus — Tajikistan is organizing events dedicated to International Mine Action Day or the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action today. The International Mine Action Day is held globally on April 4.
Parviz Mavlonqulov from the Tajik Mine Action Cell (TMAC) says an exhibition dedicated to the work that has been carried out so far in ridding Tajikistan of land mines will open at the Kokhi Somon in Dushanbe today afternoon. “Representatives from Tajik ministries and organizations as well as representative from international organizations and diplomatic missions active in Tajikistan have been invited to the exhibition,” said Mavlonqulov, “Visiting UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is also expected to attend this exhibition.”
Most land mines in Tajikistan were laid during the devastating five-year civil war, which ended in 1997. In many areas the mines still pose a deadly threat as well as a major impediment to effective land use. Additional mines were laid along the Tajik-Uzbek border by the authorities in Tashkent in the late 1990s. The action was reportedly taken to stave off incursions by the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan (IMU).
Established in 2004 under support of international community, firs of all, UNDP, OSCE, ICRC, UNICEF and donor countries, TMAC with support from UNDP and relevant partners has been developing the new Country Strategy for Mine Action for 2010-2015. The strategy will focus on: Tajikistan”s compliance with the anti-personnel mine-ban treaty through clearance of all landmines; increasing awareness of threats from mines and explosive remnants of war (ERW); improving the economic conditions of survivors and victims’ families; ensuring a safe environment for those living in mine-affected areas; and building government capacities for explosive ordnance disposal.
Over 4 million square meters of land have been cleared of land mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) so far and some 12,300 land mines and 2,630 UXOs have been destroyed. TMAC specialists have to clear 243 another minefields, totaling more than 11 square meters, Mavlonqulov said.
According to the preliminary data, 358 people have been killed and 449 others have been wounded by mine explosions in Tajikistan since 1992.
In the meantime, the UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon on April 4 noted in his message on occasion of the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action that this Day is a reminder that millions of people in nearly 80 countries still live in fear of landmines and explosive remnants of war. “These devices continue to claim 15,000 new victims each year. They take an unacceptable toll on lives and limbs. They wreak havoc on people’s livelihoods. They block access to land, roads, and basic services,” Mr. Ban said.
According to him, since the anti-personnel mine-ban treaty opened for signature 10 years ago, 153 countries have ratified or adhered to it. “About 40 million stockpiled anti-personnel landmines have been destroyed. Production, sale and transfer of anti-personnel mines have almost stopped. Large mined areas have been cleared. Victims are receiving more and better assistance, rehabilitation and reintegration. A system has been put into practice for assisting the Parties in fulfilling treaty obligations.”
The UN secretary-general noted that in another important step forward, the 32 States parties to the new Protocol Five to the Certain Conventional Weapons Convention will meet for the first time in November to consider how best to address the devastating humanitarian hazard of explosive remnants of war.
