Luanda, 02/13 - The Japanese Government
and the NGO Handicap International, on Friday signed a non-reimbursable
cooperation agreement, through which the Japanese Government gave Handicap
International 81.000 US Dollars.
The donation is for awareness programs
and campaigns on the risks and dangers of landmines, especially in two
of the country's most affected provinces, namely, Benguela and Huambo,
through training and public information campaigns, so as to prevent accidents.
According to a press note from the Japanese embassy, the money is to be used to mitigate the tragic effects of landmines in Angola, so that the people in those zones can safely carry out several activities, with priority to agriculture and cattle-raising.
The contracts were signed by the advisor of the Japanese embassy in Angola and the Handicap programme director, respectively, Shozo Ohira and Frédéric Roberts, an act which took place in the premises of the Japanese consulate, in Luanda.
Shozo Ohira reminded that this comes after the Third International Conference of Tokyo on African Development (TICAD III), which took place in September/October 2003, in which Japan committed itself to assist Africa in its socio-economic development.
Since TICAD III, he said, Japan has financed operations by the World Food Program (WFP) and by the UNHCR in Angola.
Frédéric Roberts, in his turn, said that landmines will still be there for quite some time, however, it is important to know how to behave to avoid accidents, clearly referring to the awareness campaigns and programmes on these explosive devices.
Thus, he noted, it is expected an improvement of the situation, having manifested his wish that Angola may get rid of landmines completely.
The French NGO Handicap International has been working in Angola for over eight years,
Japan has been giving financial assistance to international NGOs involved in awareness campaigns and removal of landmines in Angola. (Source: ANGOP)