UNMIK/PR/1730
PRISTINA – To mark the UN International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, April 4, UNMIK’s Office of the KPC Coordinator (OKPCC) and the Kosovo Protection Corps (KPC) organized a series of presentations, showed a static display of KPC de-mining equipment and mine risk education materials, and gave a practical display of mine clearance activities.
Events during the day demonstrated the existence of a local capacity well adapted to clearing mines and explosives in Kosovo. It also showed the KPC capable of deploying specialized de-mining missions.
Lieutenant General Sylejman Selimi, the KPC Commander spoke about the current mine situation in Kosovo and KPC de-mining Units means. These consist of seven explosive ordinance disposal (EOD) teams able to perform danger area assessment, mine and unexploded explosives (UXO) clearance, and battle area clearance verification.
While the situation of UXOs in Kosovo has improved substantially since 1999, two main problems remain – unmarked mined areas, and the large number of cluster munitions and UXOs still being found in rural areas.
Last year over 1 million square metres of land and over 1900 mines or UXOs were cleared. The work was carried out by the KPC with support from KFOR and the international NGO, Mine Awareness Trust, and Mine Detection Dog teams.
In support of a humanitarian effort, KPC deployed 10 EOD personnel to Albania following the explosions of munitions.
Currently there are 84 countries or territories contaminated by landmines or explosive remnants of war, and between 15,000 – 20,000 people become victims every year. The number of mines world-wide still waiting to be cleared is estimated between 60 – 100 million.
