Proposed initiatives to remove landmines and explosive remnants (rester, red.) of war in some 30 countries and three territories around the world are expected to cost $404 million (2,1 mia. d. kr.) in 2008, according to a report jointly published by three United Nations agencies and released Tuesday.
The Portfolio of Mine Action Projects, an annual analysis by the UN Department of Peacekeeping Operations’ Mine Action Service, the UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), notes that countries planning those initiatives have already secured $40 million (202 mio. d. kr.) from international donors.
Maxwell Gaylard, the Director of the UN Mine Action Service, said that level of donor support augurs well for mine action in 2008.
– However, the remaining funding gap for next year still totals $365 million (1,8 mia. d. kr.), and it is hoped that the donor community will again rally to the formidable challenges of mine action, he said.
The Portfolio focuses only on mine action programmes that are supported or managed by the UN.
Kilde: www.un.org
