Angola
The Landmine Problem
With the end of a 27-year civil war in 2002, between the Popular Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) and the National Union for the Total Independence of Angola (UNITA), Angola has begun to enjoy the tranquility of peace. But the remnants of the nearly three decades long war scar the land and saturate the soil with mines and UXO (unexploded ordnance). This results in Angola’s label as one of the most landmine and UXO affected countries in the world.
The return to peace has also significantly increased the movement of people throughout the country. 750,000 internally displace people (IDP) have begun to return home, but the spontaneous nature of the paths the refugees take leads to concern that further landmine casualties will occur in addition to the 800 annual casualties presently reported. Landmines not only kill hundreds every year, and ever-expanding numbers of victims under 15, but there are roughly 80,000 amputees struggling to survive in Angola today.
Humanitarian Demining Programs
In 2003, the combined efforts of all demining agencies in Angola cleared a total of 3,525,197 square meters of land. One area being cleared which is of great economic significance is the 1,165 kilometer-long Benguela Railway which links Angola to Central Africa. The clearance of areas like the Benguela Railway remove obstacles to freedom of movement and to domestic food production. Unfortunatly many mines still block roads, railways, schools, churches and water supply points consequently hindering humanitarian aid, economic reconstruction and the resettlement of millions of refugees.
On 28 June 2001 the National Inter-Sectoral Commission on Demining and Humanitarian Assistance (CNIDAH) was created. The CNIDAH was established in a move to restructure the national mine action sector and to replace the original mine action institute. The combination of an improved mine action institute and a soon to be completed Landmine Impact Survey offers hope of improved demining activities in comming years.
