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UNDP calls for demining of Angola

Sumbe, 13 March 2007 – The Country Director of UNDP Angola, Ms. Gita Well appealed Tuesday in Sumbe, central Kwanza-Sul province, for continued assistance to demining towards the country`s security, economic progress, democracy and human development.

Ms. Gita Wech was appealing to the international community during a seminar on demining.

The Country Director said it is estimated that at the current pace of demining, a period of 130 years would be required for the country to become landmine free, recalling that more than 399 square kilometres of the Angolan territory are covered with landmines. She stressed that Angola adopted for its people a poverty reduction and development plan that is not compatible with such a long period of mine clearance.

She said the UNDP is aware of the vital importance of assisting Angolan Government with its effort to exponentially accelerate the country`s demining capacity.

The Country Director also spoke out of the need for a combination of effort to reduce as much as possible the demining span of time and thus speed up the consolidation of the ongoing peace process and democracy in Angola.