The signing ceremony of agreements within the scope of the Program of Assistance to Community Projects and Human Security of the Japanese embassy was held this Thursday in Luanda between Angolan non-governmental organizations (NGOs) Association of Angolan Professionals in Action against Mines (Apacominas) and the British Mine Advisory Group (MAG), which will implement the project.
In his speech, the director general of the National Mine Action Agency, Leonardo Severino Sapalo, said that the municipalities of Quibala, in Cuanza Sul province, and Luena, capital of Moxico province, would benefit from this funding.
According to Leonardo Severino, in Quibala, the project will be carried out by Apacominas, with an estimated cost of 580,219 dollars, in an area of about 2.9 million square meters, directly benefiting more than 3,000 people and indirectly close to 15,000 others.
In the city of Luena, the project will be carried out by MAG, in charge of cleaning a vast area, at a cost of 600,976 dollars, for the direct benefit of 12,772 people.
"This act translates into a gesture of full significance and which clearly illustrates the ties between our two countries, as well as represents a significant boost in the selfless effort of the international community to support our country in the eradication of the scourge of mines, which security of our populations and who continue to victimize innocent people", said Leonardo Severino.
The official highlighted that Japan is one of the countries considered, for a long time, the main donor of the national demining program of the Republic of Angola, hoping that this support will continue taking into account the commitment of Angola, as a State party to the Ottawa Convention, in declare the country mine-free in known areas by 2025.
Mines continue to claim victims in Angola, a country that has reached the top of the list of the most mined regions in the world, due to the long period of war that took place in Angola.
At the end of last month, the Government expressed its concern about the increase in accidents involving mines and other unexploded ordnance, all over the country, with children being the main victims.
In February, two accidents were recorded, in the provinces of Bié and Cunene, resulting in five deaths, including three children and two adults.
