Demining work that kick-started in 2007 had stalled for nearly four months from June, 2010 due to the monsoon and resumed only in October. In the latest development, the government cleared the 38th minefield, located at Bhim Dithhe of Baglung district, last week.[break]
“We have plans to clear the remaining 15 minefields by July 2011 and declare the country free of them,” Shaligram Sharma, under-secretary at the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction (MoPR), told Republica.
The minefields were planted by the Nepal Army during the conflict period in peripheries surrounding their barracks to thwart possible attack by Maoist insurgents.
Both the government and the UCPN (Maoist) expressed their commitment in the Comprehensive Peace Agreement to deactivate all landmines and other explosive devises used during the 1996-2006 Maoist insurgency period, within 60 days of the signing of the historic document on November 21, 2006.
“Four platoons of the NA, each comprising 25-26 trained personnel, are deployed as part of the demining team,” said Sharma. United Nations Mine Action Team (UNMAT) has been helping with capacity building for the NA squads, which are equipped with sophisticated demining gear.
The government has also prepared a national standard for management of the landmines in order to ensure that the minefield clearance work meets international norms, according to the ministry.
Mine Risk Education on anvil
The government is all set to launch Mine Risk Education (MRE) in 43 selected communities across the country that have been identified as being at risk due to minefields and at 1,000 schools in the most-affected districts, this fiscal year.
MoPR will impart MRE through leaflets, pamphlets and regular sessions to educate people on how to keep their distance from suspicious objects (possibly explosives), ensure security and report to the concerned authority in case of possible danger.
MRE is one of the five major components of the mine action. Other components are demining, assistance to mine victims, advocacy for a mine threat-free society and destroying stockpiles of mines.
“The communities at risk are mostly in the Tarai and mid-hill districts and the most-affected districts include Ramechhap, Bara, Parsa and Kailali,” Sharma said, adding the criteria for designating the most-affected districts are based on the number of untoward incidents reported within a period of two years.
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