03 September 2009
State’s Villano Discusses Mine Removal Efforts in Afghanistan
CO.NX webchat transcript, September 3
In Afghanistan, land mines and other unexploded munitions have denied locals access to arable land and limited their ability to gather firewood to cook and stones to build their houses, and, ultimately, have deprived them of the prospect of rebuilding their communities. In 2008, mines and ERW (explosive remnants of war) killed or injured more than 445 Afghans, an average of 37 per month.
On September 3, U.S. Department of State official Peter Villano participated in a live event to discuss how the United States is removing land mines and other unexploded bombs that threaten Afghans. Villano is a program manager in the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs who has recently returned from a mine removal site visit in Afghanistan. More information can be found at http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entires/demining_afghanistan.
Following is a transcript of the discussion:
(begin transcript)
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of International Information Programs
CO.NX Program Transcript
CO.NX Chat: Landmines: Afghanistan’s Deadly Legacy
Guest: Peter Villano
Date: September 3, 2009
Time: 9:30 a.m. EDT (13:30 GMT)
CO.NX Moderator (Tim): In Afghanistan, landmines and other unexploded munitions left over from nearly 30 years of conflict have denied locals access to arable land, and limited their ability to gather firewood to cook, stones to build their houses, and, ultimately, the prospect of rebuilding their communities.
On September 3 please join Peter Villano here for a live discussion where he will take your questions. Mr. Villano is a Program Manager in the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement in the Bureau of Political-Military Affairs at the U.S. Department of State who has recently returned from a demining site visit in Afghanistan.
Ask your questions any time before or during the event. Once we receive your questions they will appear in RED.
Peter Villano: We will be getting started in a few minutes.
Sehti: Nice picture
Ren: Are you making progress in Afghanistan? How do you measure progress?
Peter Villano: Thanks, Ren...great question. Yes, the U.S., the international community and the Afghans are indeed making progress in clearing landmines and other explosive remnants of war. Progress is measured by the amount of land that is cleared – and over the past 20 years more than 1500 sq km of land has been cleared. Because the problem is so pervasive, much remains to be done...
Jun Yen: And, what does US do to help solve this problem?
Peter Villano: The U.S. funds the clearance of landmines in Afghanistan and works with Afghan non-governmental organizations (NGOs), private organizations that remove these explosive hazards. The U.S. also looks to remove other unexploded ordnance items that threaten civilians. Since 1993, more than $180 million has been put towards this effort. We also work very closely with our international partners - and most important - the Government of Afghanistan.
CO.NX Moderator (Tim): Read Peter's blog about demining in Afghanistan: http://blogs.state.gov/index.php/entries/demining_afghanistan/
Joseph: Are signs there telling people not to walk?
Peter Villano: Thanks, Joseph. For the most part, known minefields and areas that have explosive remnants of war are marked - however there are areas that are not formally marked. For example, areas that haven't been surveyed by demining experts are generally not marked - and if they contain explosive hazards they may be known only to locals who have suffered casualties or lost livestock, and who now know to avoid these areas.
abdul hadi: how many it will take removing the landmines from all Afghanistan?
Peter Villano: Thank you, Adbul. This is an excellent question, although very difficult to answer. It will still take years to remove the explosive hazards that are threatening civilians in Afghanistan. After decades of war, we know there are about 700 sq km of land where landmines are suspected to be...and that number is going down because of the ongoing clearance efforts, but the number also goes up from time to time because of the ongoing war. It is something that the U.S. and our Afghan and international partners watch very closely...
CO.NX Moderator (Tim): Thanks for all the questions so far. Peter is working on answering them now.
Sehti: Do you use special equipment besides metal detectors?
Peter Villano: Yes, in addition to metal detectors a good amount of specialized equipment is used. Deminers and operators use specialized safety equipment, specially designed hand tools - and also larger mechanical flails and other heavy lifting equipment to clear larger open areas faster.
Sehti: How much money does the U.S. spend on getting rid of the mines in Afghanistan?
Peter Villano: Thanks, Sehti. Since 1993, the U.S. has provided more than $180 million for humanitarian mine action in Afghanistan. The U.S. is the largest international donor to Afghanistan for this type of assistance. The majority of this assistance has gone direct to Afghan-run non-governmental organizations that have been engaged in this type of work for more than 20 years.
Jun Yen: Do you guys train the Afghanistans to do the demining?
Peter Villano: Actually Jun Yen, the Afghans themselves are experts at removing landmines and all forms of humanitarian mine action....the U.S. just provides them with financial assistance. Most of the projects we support - including the community based demining initiative in Kunar with the Afghan NGO OMAR - are 100% Afghan run.
Otavio: these men do risk their lives everywhere in this dangerous world and they deserve a hell lot of praise for doing the job they decided to do.
Peter Villano: You are right, Otavio, and the U.S. is proud to partner with the brave Afghan deminers who are removing explosive remnants of war and landmines every day, and improving the safety and security of Afghanistan one sq km at a time. And in fact - it's not just men. Afghan women are very engaged in humanitarian mine action and the U.S. recently funded the first ever female Afghan Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) team which is being run by OMAR.
Jun Yen: Will these mines be somehow “expire” over time and become harmless to the public?
Peter Villano: Thanks - great question. For the most part, landmines and other explosive hazards remain just as deadly with the passage of time. In fact, because of shifting landscapes and erosion, they move into positions which make them easier to step on, or easier to pick up. So the hazards really don't just go away with the passage of time.
Jun Yen: So you mentioned that US is funding them, what does the US get in return?
Peter Villano: Well, this really is broader than what the U.S. gets in return. Landmines and other explosive hazards inhibit development, disrupt markets and production, prevent the delivery of goods and services, prolong/obstruct reconstruction and stabilization...so when you remove landmines and other explosive hazards in Afghanistan, you enable socio-economic development and energize other benefits as well that will help the larger country goals and objectives of Afghanistan and the international community.
Sullah: Where are the worst areas with landmines?
Peter Villano: This is an excellent question, Sullah. Landmines affect almost every Province in Afghanistan. If you were looking at a map, the most heavily affected areas are in the provinces surrounding the Capitol. Most city centers throughout the country - as well as areas along the ring road that circles Afghanistan - are still heavily impacted.
Ren: Do you work in other countries? If so, which ones?
Peter Villano: Yes, Ren - The U.S. supports humanitarian mine action in more than 30 countries - and since 1993 the U.S. has contributed more than $1.4 billion for mine action throughout the globe. The U.S. supports mine action in Iraq, Lebanon, Angola, Sudan, and Jordan, to name a few.
Joseph: Do you know anyone there who was hurt by mines of explosives?
Peter Villano: Thanks, Joseph. I do know people who were hurt by landmines and unexploded ordnance. Unfortunately the average casualty figure is about 60 per months - with children being involved in more than half of these incidents.
arooj: How many Afghanis are employed for this cause by OMAR?
Peter Villano: Depending on the number of projects going on through the country, there is generally between 4 and 5 thousand Afghans employed in humanitarian mine action - most of these are employed by Afghan NGOs, commercial organizations and international NGOs also play a major role.
arooj 2: i'm glad U.S is helping Afghanistan.
Peter Villano: Thanks, Arooj. As I said before, the U.S. is proud to partner with the people of Afghanistan and the international community to remove landmines and other explosive remnants of war.
(end transcript)
