|
|
The Tokyo conference will also consider the pressing need to strengthen humanitarian mine-clearance programmes. Although the United Nations is developing a set of standards for mine-clearance operations, a major increase in resources is urgently needed to clear priority areas in dozens of severely mine-affected countries across Africa, the Americas, Asia and Europe. Mine clearance is expensive, but so is the cost — human, social and economic — of leaving tens of millions of uncleared landmines scattered over more than 70 countries. At the same time, resources must be committed to research on and development of low-cost but more effective mine-clearance technologies.
|
