Australia Improving Lives of Landmine Survivors

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Australia will provide $2.4 million for prosthetics and the rehabilitation of Iraqi landmine survivors and other victims of conflict.

This assistance through the United Nations Development Program builds on our existing support for mine clearance activities across Iraq, through which more than 9.4 million square meters of land has been cleared. It will continue to prevent injuries from landmines and other explosive remnants of war, and help and support survivors.

Australia will also donate 10 Australian-made landmine detectors to the United Nations in Nepal to help clear 45 minefields across the country and reduce the risk of death and disability.

This brings the Government's assistance for mine action in 2008-09 to over $17 million, including for projects in Afghanistan, Cambodia, Iraq, Laos, Lebanon and Vietnam.

Today, United Nations International Day for Mine Awareness and Action reminds us how vital it is to protect people and their livelihoods from the threat of landmines and other explosive remnants of war.

Significant progress has been made, but much is yet to be done to rid the world of this tragic legacy of war.

In Iraq, landmines and other unexploded devices continue to harm innocent civilians.

Australia has a proud record of achievement in supporting mine action.

For over a decade, our contribution to mine action has assisted survivors, educated communities about the dangers of landmines and cleared contaminated land for agricultural production, including:

6.7 million square meters of land cleared in Cambodia in 2008

Almost 300,000 people in high-risk communities in Afghanistan educated about the risk of landmines

40,000 people in Laos now have safe access to more then 5.5 million square meters of primarily agricultural land.

Australia's mine action program includes a $75 million commitment to action on mines from 2005 to 2010. Australia is on track to meet this target.

As well, in December 2008 Australia was one of the original signatories to the Convention on Cluster Munitions, reinforcing our commitment to reducing the threat of explosive remnants of war.

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