§ Baroness Rawlingsasked Her Majesty's Government:
What assessment they have made of the impact of landmines on the African continent; and what action, if any, they are taking to seek to eliminate landmines in Africa. [HL853]
§ Baroness AmosThe African continent comprises the entire range of mine-affectedness, with some countries among the most heavily mine-infested in the world, others completely mine-free and others again falling somewhere between these extremes. Apart from the toll of human tragedy caused by anti-personnel landmines, affected countries share to differing degrees a common experience of social and economic dislocation caused by denial of access to productive land, diversion of medical and other resources and, in many cases, obstacles to conflict resolution and post-conflict reconciliation, regeneration and development.
HMG's global humanitarian demining strategy is directed towards universalisation of the Ottawa Convention and helping developing countries to develop their own capacity to meet their convention obligations. The Department for International Development (DfID) funds work in support of mine clearance, mines awareness and capacity building programmes. The latter include programmes aimed at improving the linkage with poverty reduction in national planning and prioritisation; encouraging practical innovation to enhance safety and efficiency in operations; and strengthening international systems for co-ordination and collaboration. DfID has a planned provision for around £10 million annually for mines action, the majority provided through the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) and the United Nations Development Progamme (UNDP).
DfID has supported humanitarian mine action in Africa for over 10 years, with bilateral demining programmes covering Angola, Chad, Guinea Bissau and Mozambique. In the current financial year DfID is providing financial support of £2 million to UNDP, aimed at enhancing the capacity of mine action organisations in Angola, Chad, Eritrea, Ethiopia, 12WA Guinea Bissau, Mozambique, Somalia and Sudan, with a view to improving the effectiveness of their operations planning, building national capacities and linking their mine action work with broader development goals.
The Ministry of Defence has trained Kenyan forces in demining techniques prior to their deployment with the United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea.