ITAR-TASS

Russia grants over $3 mln for Nicaragua’s mine-clearing operations

15.08.2009, 03.37

MEXICO, August 15 (Itar-Tass) - Russia granted 3.5 million dollars to Nicaragua for launching mine-clearing operations in remote and hard-to-reach regions, Russian ambassador in Nicaragua, Igor Kondrashev, told Itar-Tass by phone on Friday.

This aid is provided in compliance with the agreement signed by the director-general of the federal a gency for support and coordination of Russian participation in international humanitarian operations ( EMERCOM), Oleg Belaventsev, and Nicaraguan Army General Unberto Calderon.

“The funds will be earmarked for buying necessary equipment and materials as well as for mine-clearing operations in the country’s north that will be conducted by Nicaragua’s servicemen and EMERCOM experts,” he said.

Two Russian specialists had already arrived in Nicaragua. Next week another six experts will come. The expert group will further increase.

“All regions where the operations will be conducted are hard-to-reach and mountainous and it is difficult to demine these areas. Many civilians live in these regions, and anti-personnel landmines pose a direct threat to these people. From time to time civil population dies and gets injuries from mine explosions. During heavy rains mines are washed out from the ground and taken to agricultural fields,” the diplomat said.

“Unfortunately, no documents are left that can help to demine the area,” he said.

Experts say in the 1980s during Nicaragua’s internal armed conflict over 179,000 mines were installed. Since 1989 when the mine-clearing operations were launched 174,875 mines have already been cleared.