Inhambane declared free of land mines

Mozambique’s National Demining Institute (IND) on 6 November formally concluded mine clearance in the southern province of Inhambane.

Over the past 16 years, 6.5 million square metres in the province has been cleared of land mines, and released for productive activities. 570 land mines and other items of unexploded ordnance were destroyed over this period, and 12,000 munitions of various calibres were removed.

Under the government’s National Mine Action Plan (PNAC) for the 2008-2014 period, about US$4 million a year was spent on mine clearance in the province. The work was undertaken by the humanitarian organisation Handicap International and several commercial operators.

Since 2008, there have been four mine explosions in Inhambane, killing two sappers and three civilians.

Seven of the country’s ten provinces are now officially free of land mines, and 120 of its 128 districts. At the ceremony classifying Inhambane as land-mine free, held in the coastal district of Inhassoro, IND Director Alberto Augusto said he was optimistic that the remaining areas in the rest of the country still affected by mines could be cleared by the end of this year.