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Ethiopia

EU contributes EUR 4.85 million to demining in Ethiopia

(A tripartite press release issued by EMAO, EU, and UNDP)5 May 2010, Addis Ababa: In addition to the EUR 9.75 million contributed to the 2007-2009 mine action project, the European Union (EU) contributes additional EUR 4.85 million to the critical development work undertaken by the Ethiopian Mine Action Office (EMAO) for the next two years in support of Ethiopia's efforts to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) and fulfill its commitment under the Mine Ban Convention by 2015. Building upon the remarkable results delivered under the 2007-2009 project, from 2010 to 2011 EMAO will continue fulfilling its demining and mine risk education mandate under the new project endorsed by the government of Ethiopia. The EU, Japanese Government and UNDP will support EMAO through financial and programmatic assistance.

Under the new project entitled Mine Action in Tigray, Afar and Somali regions 2010-2011, EMAO aims to demine 10 km=B2 of landmine-infested land for civilian productive use in the three target regions, while providing 100,000 people with gender and culture sensitive mine awareness sessions to help mitigate threats posed by the landmines and other explosive remnants of war.

Between 2007 and 2009, over 22 km=B2 of safe land was released by EMAO through integrated demining operations to 350,000 people of the three target regions for productive use. Combined with indirect beneficiaries, it is estimated that a total of 1.3 million people benefited from EMAO's mine clearance operations for the last three years. Moreover about 160,000 boys, girls, men and women benefited from a series of mine awareness and community liaison sessions provided by EMAO in and around its operations areas, resulting in the desired behavioral changes of the participants and the realization of participatory mine action in the communities.

According to EMAO's latest statistical data on the socio-economic benefit of mine clearance operations, about 90 % of the safe land released by EMAO was used by local residents for farming and/or grazing, contributing to the increased food security and agricultural development. The remainder was utilized for housing of returnees and local inhabitants as well as other infrastructure development projects, such as construction of schools, water wells, an airport, and electric power grids. EMAO's humanitarian and developmental demining service has significantly been contributing to community rehabilitation, local development and consolidation of peace and security in the regions previously affected by the conflicts.

The EU has been the largest donor to mine action globally with EUR 1.5 billion contribution for fight against Anti-Personnel Landmines from 1997 to 2007. With continued support from the EU, UNDP, and other partners, EMAO's efforts will certainly help protect civilians and empower the residents of all the landmine-impacted communities for the inclusive sustainable human development in Ethiopia.

For further information please contact:

1. Almaz Mengesha, Economist, Delegation of the European Union to Ethiopia. telephone: +251-(0)116-612511; E-mail: almaz.mengesha@ec.euroa.eu

2. Keita Sugimoto, Mine Action Programme Advisor, UNDP Ethiopia. Telephone: 251-(0)912-200345; E-mail keita.sugimoto@undp.org