International campaign to clear 23 million mines in Egypt

A visiting UN mine assessment mission stressed commitment to help Egypt remove landmines and step up development in Egypt.

At a press conference jointly held with Minister of Planning and State Minister of International Cooperation Ahmed El Darsh following their meeting the Chairwoman of the UN mission said that her mission's task focuses on evaluating the situation regarding the landmine problem in Egypt in order to prepare a report and present recommendations in this connection.

She said that members of the mission will meet with a number of Ministers and Senior acquainted with the problem.

A large number of countries have started in the past five years to contribute to solve this problem that obstructs development in many world states, the UN Official added.

The UN exerted similar efforts in 11 other countries including, Jordan, Yemen and Lebanon, she said.

On his part, Darsh said that the mission does speak in the name of specific states. The mission aims at assessing the situation and present recommendations to solve this dangerous problem, he added.

Darsh met with members of the UN mission with representatives from the Foreign and Defense Ministries as well as other Ministries attending.

Members of the mission listened to efforts exerted by the Egyptian government to remove landmines and step up development.

Egypt has more than 20 per cent of the total landmines in the world.

Meanwhile, Al Darsh said Egypt began an International Campaign to clear 23 million mines. The UN experts will inspect Al Alameen today.