189,163 LANDMINES AND 10,071, TONS OF AMMUNITION DESTROYED IN AFGHANISTAN 14.08.2006 On 12 August, the Steering Group on the Anti-Personnel Mine and Ammunition Stockpile Destruction Project – also known as the Ammunition project - met at the Ministry of Defense in Kabul. The group discussed issues such as the completion of an additional central ammunition depot for June 2007 or the training of more students in the newly created Ammunition Technical Officers course teaching Afghan National Army (ANA) personnel ammunition disposal. The Steering Group, which meets quarterly, is jointly chaired by the Canadian Ambassador and the Minister of Defense. The Steering Group was established following the signature between the Government of Afghanistan and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) of an Agreement on Anti-Personnel Mine & Ammunition Stockpile Destruction (31 July 2005). The two-year nationwide project provides that ammunition safe to be moved will be transported to secure storage facilities while the remainder will be destroyed. All mines will be destroyed. Since the launch of the pilot project in January 2005, 1,130 caches of ammunition have been surveyed, 189,163 landmines and over 12,475 anti-tank mines have been destroyed under the supervision of ANBP’s teams. With stockpiles amounting to hundreds of thousands of tons, there are genuine concerns over the current state of ammunition in Afghanistan which has not been maintained and is lying in unguarded locations or stored in populated areas. The Ammunition project will also assist the Government of Afghanistan in meeting its stockpile destruction obligations as a State Party to the Ottawa Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction. By signing the Convention on 1 March 2003, the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan committed to establish a complete ban on anti-personnel mines within four years, with all stockpiles to be destroyed by 28 February 2007. The implementation of the project is supported by ANBP but ultimately under the responsibility of the Ministry of Defense. The total cost of the two year project is US $16 million; with US $5.1 million the Canadian Government is the biggest donor supporting this project. Visits to the Ammunition depot of Khaikhabad can be organized and interested media are welcome to contact ANBP’s press office. << | >> |
Search for Jobs in:
Afghanistan Kabul Mumbai Dehli Karachi Islamabad Abu dhabi Dehli Singapur London New York Los Angeles Canada
Afghanistan Kabul Mumbai Dehli Karachi Islamabad Abu dhabi Dehli Singapur London New York Los Angeles Canada
Afghanistan Says It Will Sign Cluster Bomb Treaty
French hostage in Kabul released
Rice arrives in India in wake of attacks
2 U.S. Soldiers in Afghan Abuse Probe
2 G.I.?s Investigated
Strategy Shift Poses Stiff Challenge for Obama
U.S. deaths in Afghanistan drop sharply
A brave woman in Afghanistan
Photos
