FalklandsFa free of lethal mines almostalm 40 years afteraf conflict

THE Falkland Islands are to be declared offici officially mine free nearly 40 years after the h hostilities ended.

At the conclusion of the Falklands War in 1982 British Forces removed all of th the mines it had planted as well as look looking to locate and clear all other mine mines laid during the confrontation.

Ho However, after several soldiers were injur injured during this process the UK Gove Government decided to stop the clearance process and instead fenced off all susp suspect areas.

Ju Just over 150 areas in the Falklands were identified as hazardous, which initial w work reduced to 122.

Al Although a number of mines continued t to be destroyed by the UK military’s joint service explosive ordnance disposa posal detachment using remote controlle trolled equipment, it was not until 2009 that d determined clearance work began with Safelane Global, civilian mine clear clearing specialists.

The Th Daily Telegraph can now reveal that m mine clearance was officially complete pleted last month.

Th The effort was conducted as part of the U UK’S obligation to the Anti-personnel M Mine Ban Convention, also known as the Ottawa Convention.

Since 2009, the clearance teams have destroyed more than 10,000 anti-personnel mines and assorted items of unexploded ordnance.

It has resulted in 2,338 hectares of safe ground released back to the community.

This Saturday, the UK will officially announce that the Falkland Islands are without mines and will be able to declare that the UK and its territories are mine free.

Leona Roberts, a member of the Falkland Islands Legislative Assembly, said: “On behalf of the people of the Falkland Islands, and perhaps even more importantly, on behalf of all the generations of Islanders to come, we express our heartfelt thanks to each and every person involved in the demining programme.”