| Media Note Office of the Spokesman Washington, DC October 8, 2002 U.S. Government Reports Progress in Humanitarian Mine Action: 2002 Edition of To Walk the Earth in Safety ReleasedThe State Department’s Office of Humanitarian Demining has released the 4th edition of To Walk the Earth in Safety: The United States Commitment to Humanitarian Demining. This document is the latest in a series of annual reports on the status, progress and success of the U.S. Government’s efforts to mitigate the threat of landmines around the world. This publication provides historical descriptions of the landmine problem in affected areas, describes the nature of U.S. mine action assistance to various countries, and highlights notable accomplishments since the program’s inception. The United States Humanitarian Demining Program seeks to reduce the threat of landmines by supporting mine action initiatives, such as mine risk education, mine clearance and survivors’ assistance, in 44 countries. These efforts, and those of other donors, have resulted in a significant decrease in landmine casualties and an increase in the restoration of previously mine infested agricultural land and infrastructure during the past few years. Examples of program successes include the former Yugoslav province of Kosovo, which was declared mine-safe in 2000, as well as Moldova, which declared itself mine-safe in March 2001. Several other countries will be able to make declarations of mine-safe status in the near future due to the support of the U.S. Government and other patrons around the globe. Appendices of To Walk the Earth in Safety detail related topics such as the Quick Reaction Demining Force, mine detection dogs, the Department of Defense’s Humanitarian Demining Technology Research and Development program and the International Trust Fund for Demining and Victims Assistance. Copies of To Walk the Earth in Safety are available from the Department of State, Office of Humanitarian Demining Programs (PM/HDP), Room 3328, Washington, D.C. 20520. |
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