U.S. Surplus Milk Sale Funds Landmine Clearance in Angola

The U.S. Department of State welcomes the innovative initiative by the Humpty Dumpty Institute, a New York-based non-governmental organization, to fund landmine clearance in Angola with proceeds generated by the sale of donated U.S. surplus powdered milk. This project will save lives and promote economic development in one of the world’s most heavily mine-affected countries.

The Humpty Dumpty Institute has arranged for the sale of U.S. nonfat dry milk in Angola made available under a U.S. Department of Agriculture food aid program, which allows foreign governments and organizations to use U.S. commodities in specific countries to support humanitarian objectives.

Using the proceeds of the sale, the Humpty Dumpty Institute will apply approximately $620,000 to demine 1,500 kilometers of a major road network linking rich agricultural land with key commercial markets in Angola’s Planalto region.

In cooperation with The HALO Trust, a mine clearance organization, work has already started on this "Road Threat Reduction" project following the delivery and sale of the first tranche of nonfat dry milk in October 2004. The final shipment is expected later this month.

In support of this novel approach to humanitarian mine action, the Department of State recently provided the Humpty Dumpty Institute with a grant to support the expansion of its mine action funding and implementation model to other mine-affected countries.

The Humpty Dumpty Institute participates in the Department of State’s Public-Private Partnership Program to support humanitarian mine action. Under this unique program, coordinated by the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement, the State Department works with nearly 50 civic and non-profit organizations, corporations, schools, and other private groups to advance the cause of humanitarian mine action.

To learn more about the State Department’s humanitarian mine action program and its related Public-Private Partnership initiatives, visit www.state.gov/t/pm/wra. To learn more about the Humpty Dumpty Institute and its mine action projects, visit www.humptydumpty.net.

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