E-Kantipur

KATHMANDU, SEP 27 - The Nepal Army Mine Action Coordination Centre (NAMACC) has said humanitarian de-mining tasks in all parts of the country will be completed by the end of 2011.

The NAMACC has been conducting de-mining programmes since 2007 in coordination with the United Nations Mine Action Team (UNMAT). A total of 33 mined sites in districts including Dolakha, Arghakhachi, Makwanpur, Khotang, Doti, Tanahun, Siraha, Rolpa, Lamjung, Gulmi, Baglung, Baitadi, Syangja, Dadeldhura, Dang, Solukhumbu, Ramechhap, Kailali, Pyuthan, Banke, Palpa, Surkhet and Parbat have already been de-mined.

The Nepal Army (NA) had installed mines and Improvised Explosive Devices (IED) in 53 different places across the country. According to Mary Sack, Acting Programme Manager of UNMAT, 52,617 dangerous items have been destroyed since 2007.

De-mining refers to activities leading to the removal of the threat from landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW). Humanitarian mine clearance, according to the NA, bears the major objective to clear all of the mines and other ERW from a given area in order to return safe land to civilians.

Currently, the NA has all modern technologies and skilled manpower required for the de-mining process. While the British government has been providing modern technologies including bomb suits, disrupters, wheel barrow revolution, Cyclops and locaters to the NA, the NAMACC and UNMAT have been jointly conducting various International Mine Action Standard (IMAS) training campaigns. According to NA, there are 179 IMAS trained army personnels capable of carrying out every kind of de-mining and bomb defusing tasks.

"Apart from de-mining the mined areas, we are also capable of defusing bombs and other explosive materials," said Major Kamal Baniya of the NAMACC.

Meanwhile, according to data provided by the NA, IED blasts have gone up in the Tarai regions in recent times. "Though there has been a significant decrease in such explosions after the peace process in 2006, at least two IED explosions are reported in the Tarai per week."

"The handy production and easy use of these materials have made violence much easier," said Baniya. "Pressure cooker bombs and socket bombs are mostly in use in Tarai regions."

Some popular IEDs used in Nepal are 'sutli bombs', pressure-cooker bombs and improvised grenades.

Posted on: 2010-09-27 08:54

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