§ Lord Juddasked Her Majesty's Government:
What if their latest assessment of progress on de-mining in Kosovo; what is their estimate of the size of the remaining task; and what action they are taking together with others to make the country safe from mines. [HL4526]
§ Baroness AmosClearance of mines and other unexploded ordnance is co-ordinated by the United Nations Mine Action and Co-ordination Centre (UNMACC) in Pristina.
UNMACC reports clearance of 3.24 million square metres, nearly 12,000 houses, 558 schools and over 9,000 items of ordnance since July 1999. This work will continue until December as part of the emergency phase of survey, marking and high priority clearance.
152WAUNMACC estimates the majority of clearance could be completed within three years. Its objectives for the year 2000 include complete clearance of high risk areas.
My department has committed over £7 million to UNMACC's Mine Action Programme for 1999. We are now considering the size and content of a commitment to the programme in 2000.