The German Federal Foreign Office (GFFO) has provided a sum of Euros 4 million (approx. Rs. 800 million) towards demining activities in affected areas of the Northern and Eastern Provinces in Sri Lanka.
The GFFO took this decision in light of Sri Lanka’s accession to the Ottawa Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention with the aim of assisting Sri Lanka to achieve the target of becoming a mine-impact free country by 2020. The implementation will be carried out by two Non-Governmental Organisations, HALO Trust and Mines Advisory Group (MAG). Utilising a grant of Euros 2 million by the GFFO, the HALO trust, one of the largest international mine action operators in the country, is implementing the project titled ‘Humanitarian Mine Clearance in Northern Sri Lanka’ over the course of two years in the Districts of Jaffna, Kilinochchi, and Mullaitivu and is expected to strengthen the reconciliation process by removing the threat of landmines and other explosive remnants of war, allowing resettlement of Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) and improving security and livelihoods for the people of northern Sri Lanka. In addition to this, the project will also allow for demobilisation training where the staff funded under this initiative will gain knowledge and skills to improve their post mine clearance livelihoods.
Mines Advisory Group (MAG) also received a grant assistance of Euros 2 million to carry out humanitarian mine clearance which will be focused in both Northern and Eastern provinces in Mannar, Trincomalee, Kilinochchi and Mullaitivu Districts.
Their objective, during the two years of the project implementation, is to release a minimum of 1,110,480 m2 of land in the aforementioned areas to help provide immediate safety to families, both resident population and IDP returnees which is vital for sustainable resettlement, livelihood and other socio-economic development.
This will be achieved in cooperation with their the local implementing partner Delvon Assistance for Social Harmony (DASH) which will help regulate their land release activities and demining operations. MAG has been active in Sri Lanka since 2002 to help destroy landmines, cluster munitions and unexploded ordnance.
(FT)