Tuesday Nov 19, 2024
Tuesday Nov 19, 2024
Friday, 11 October 2019 00:02 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
On 17 September, German Ambassador Jörn Rohde visited the demining sites of the HALO Trust and Delvon Assistance for Social Harmony (DASH), who is the local implementing partner of Mines Advisory Group (MAG) in Kilinochchi. The aforementioned two non-governmental organisations HALO and MAG received a total sum of 4 million euros (approx. Rs. 800 m) by the German Federal Foreign Office for demining in affected areas of the Northern and Eastern Provinces. Each organisation received 2 million euros to carry out their humanitarian mine clearance activities.
Germany fully supports Sri Lanka to be a mine-impact free country by 2020 and also appreciates very much the Sri Lankan Government’s 2017 decision to accede to the Ottawa Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention.
The HALO trust, one of the largest international mine action operators in the country, will use 2 m euros by the German Foreign Office for the project titled ‘Humanitarian Mine Clearance in Northern Sri Lanka’ over the course of two years in Jaffna, Kilinochchi, and Mullaitivu. MAG which has been active in Sri Lanka since 2002 to help destroy landmines, cluster munitions and unexploded ordnance will utilise the funds of 2 m euros to focus on both Northern and Eastern Provinces in the areas of Mannar, Trincomalee, Kilinochchi and Mulaithivu.
During Ambassador Rohde’s visit to the HALO and DASH sites in Muhumalai, he was briefed on the tedious and delicate procedures followed by the teams in both organisations in their demining efforts and also about the developments of the demining project. While navigating the minefield, he experienced manual and mechanical demining in action which is mainly carried out by female deminers.
Ambassador Rohde said, “I am very impressed by the dedication and willingness of all actors to make Sri Lanka mine-free very soon. Our substantial financial contribution reflects Germany’s longstanding global commitment in this regard.”
The Ambassador also seized the opportunity to hold meetings with residents and internally displaced persons (IDP) returnees who are newly resettled in Kilinochchi where the demining projects are currently underway to improve the security and livelihoods of people in these areas. Ambassador was pleased to witness the progress of the projects benefitting the local community which provides immediate safety to families and is vital for sustainable resettlement, livelihood and other socio-economic development.
