Japan pledges $1m for demining projects

KABUL for clearing one million square metres of mine-contaminated land in the war-torn country.

An agreement to the effect was signed in Kabul between Japanese Ambassador Hiroshi Takahashi and Farid Ahmad Humayun, programme manager at the Halo Trust, a UK-based demining and charity organisation.

After signing the agreement, Takahashi said the money would be spent on 28 demining projects in restive areas of Kabul, Baghlan and Takhar provinces. He hoped the projects, once implemented, would help enable people to live and work in their areas again.

Humayun thanked the Japanese government for the assistance, saying the projects would be executed in 17 areas at high risk in Baghlan and Takhar provinces.

Nearly a dozen sites in Guldara, Shakardara and Deh Sabz districts of Kabul had been identified for demining projects, which would also provide work opportunities to more than 200 people, he said.

“In cooperation with local councils, the projects will be completed in one year when one million square metres of land will be cleared of mines,” he explained.

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