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FROM THE FIELD

SRI LANKA: MAG contributes to reconstruction, growth and stability
23 Oct 2009 09:12:00 GMT
 Source: MAG (Mines Advisory Group)
Website: Website: http://www.maginternational.org

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MAG Community Liaison staff gather survey data from villagers in Vavuniya District, Northern Sri Lanka, September 2009.
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MAG Community Liaison staff gather survey data from villagers in Vavuniya District, Northern Sri Lanka, September 2009.
MAG Sri Lanka

Background

•  Sri Lanka conflict

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MAG's ongoing activities in Sri Lanka in the aftermath of the civil war are helping to:

- Support the return of internally displaced people (IDPs)

- Create a more secure environment for the people of Sri Lanka

- Build safer communities and improve the futures of people affected by explosive remnants of conflict

- Contribute to national reconstruction, economic growth and stability by freeing up land for essential livelihood activities

Northern Sri Lanka

The programme is working in support of efforts to declare villages safe for the return of IDPs currently being housed in camps around Vavuniya. Approximately 250,000 IDPs from across the Northern Province of the country remain in camps.

MAG is undertaking survey and clearance to support the return of IDPs to Mannar and Vavuniya Districts, and will be seeking to expand the area of operations over the coming months.

Community Liaison teams completed assessments of the villages of Alkadaveli and Vanakulam in Manthai West Division of Mannar during September, gathering information on the scale, nature and impact of the landmine and unexploded ordnance (UXO) problem, and how this should be addressed. Due to the identification of suspected hazardous areas, technical survey and clearance then began.

Assessment work also started in Madhu Division of Mannar District late last month. In addition, seven villages in Vavuniya South Division and eight in Vengachedikulam Division - both within Vavuniya District - were surveyed. This was done in conjunction with the District Mine Action Office in Vavuniya and the Sri Lankan Army.

Technical survey and clearance was undertaken in Pallaikuli, Alkadaveli, Karunkandal and Vannakulam in the Manthai West Division of Mannar District. A total of 135 anti-personnel mines and 183 items of unexploded ordnance were found in and around Pallaikuli village alone during September, with a further 99 items found in the other villages.

The clearance tasks in and around these four villages are expected to be completed during October, with IDP returns scheduled for the end of the month.

Eastern Sri Lanka

MAG has completed its work in the east of Sri Lanka for the time being, with the focus from now on entirely on the priority survey and clearance of land for IDP returns in the north. The remaining teams were transferred to the programme in the north at the end September.

Assessments were carried out in three villages in Batticaloa District during September - Vittpanaimadhu, Puludamonaddai and Aliodai - all in Eralaikulam Division. Confirmed and/or suspected hazardous areas were identified in each of the villages, which will require clearance in future.

Clearance work was completed at Kajuwatta North, in the north of Batticaloa District. A total of 794 square metres was cleared manually and 2,445 sq/m mechanically during the month. Twenty-six anti-personnel mines and 10 items of UXO were found in total since clearance started at this site.

MAG's work in Sri Lanka is supported by: Actiefonds Mijnen Ruimen (AMR); AusAID; Embassy of Japan, Colombo; Stichting Vluchteling; UK Department for International Development (DFID); Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement, Department of State.




[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

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Topics

•  Landmines and explosives

•  Refugees & displacement

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Emergencies

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[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

Background information

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Last updated:Fri Oct 23 09:15:37 2009