First batch of women deminers completes training

[TamilNet, Friday, 11 July 2003, 13:46 GMT]
A function to mark the completion of three months of training for the first batch of thirty-three women deminers from the Humanitarian Demining Unit was held at the HDU’s training facility in Paranthan Thursday, sources said.

The Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) sponsored the training of the women with the support of the Tamils Rehabilitation Organization (TRO), the sources said. The HDU’s women deminers are the first demining group of women in Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, another batch of 62 youths completed training on destroying mines and explosives with the assistance of the Mines Action Group (MAG) from the United Kingdom, HDU sources said.

According to an HDU press release, in the Vanni regions not under the control of the Sri Lanka Army and in the Jaffna peninsula, the HDU has been involved in demining since 1999. Until August 2002, the group has removed 1,51,938 landmines and unexploded ordnances. Since August 2002 to date, in an area of 4,79,857 square meters, the HDU has removed 7896 explosives and 8103 mines.

In the Northern region infested with mines and other unexploded ordnances, an area of 1419,68,13, 457 square meters where lives are in danger, an area of 4,12,25,228 square meters has been cleared, the HDU said.

In the function on Thursday, the TRO’s executive director, Mr. K.P.Reggie, the HDU’s director Mr. Parani, representatives of NPA, MAG and the Swiss Foundation for Mine Action (FSD) , and a representative of UNHCR participated, sources said.

Related Articles:
05.04.03   Swiss group awards certificates to de-mining personnel
29.01.03   De-mining in Jaffna said big business, as mines claim more
16.12.02   Jaffna gets first woman de-miner