SL highlighted at landmine confab in Jordan
Sri Lanka was a global success story in the mine-clearance programme since it reduced its minefields from 1,302 square kilometres to 18, the Secretary to the Ministry of National Policies, Economic Affairs, Resettlement and Rehabilitation V. Sivagnanasothy said. He told that APMG Action was initiated to establish an Interministerial Committee to formulate an Action Plan on Mine Victim Assistance to improve the quality of life of the victims.
“In this context, given the multisectoral nature of the mine victim assistance programme covering sectors such as social services, health, education, technical and vocational training and employment (labour), the Ministry is in the process of formulating the Action Plan to ensure an integrated and coordinated approach,” he said.
The Global Conference on Assistance to Victims of Antipersonnel Mines was held at Amman, Jordan from September 10– 12 organised by the Implementation Support Unit (ISU) of the Antipersonnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC) and supported by the European Union to end the sufferings and number of casualties of Antipersonnel mines with a view to improve the quality of life of mineaffected victims.
“Sri Lanka was considered as a global success story in the mine clearance programme as it was one of the few countries that have momentously cleared the hazardous area from 1,302 Sq. Km to 18 Sq. Km and targeted to declare Sri Lanka as a Mine Free country by the year 2020. “Under the leadership Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as the Minister of National Policies, Economic Affairs, Resettlement & Rehabilitation, Northern Province Development and Youth Affairs, the Ministry was able to recently obtain funding from the Government of Norway to clear the landmines through the Operators. The Mine Risk Education (MRE) was also considered as a success story as it significantly reduced deaths and injuries of civilians. This intervention was especially supported by the UNICEF and other United Nations (UN) Agencies in educating the high-risk target groups such as children, women and men including metal and firewood collectors,” Mr Sivagnanasothy said.
Based on the Cabinet Memorandum submitted by the Prime Minister, the Ministry has initiated action to establish an Inter-ministerial Committee to formulate an Action Plan on Mine Victim Assistance to improve the quality of life of the victims. In this context, given the multi-sectoral nature of the mine victim assistance programme covering sectors such as social services, health, education, technical and vocational training and employment (labour), the Ministry is in the process of formulating the Action Plan to ensure an integrated and coordinated approach.
The victim assistance programme includes (06) six core components namely, 01. Emergency Assistance (first aid and pre-hospital care); 02. Hospital care which encompasses multiple surgeries, amputation, blood transfusion, fracture care and other medical services; 03. Physical Rehabilitation which includes the provision of artificial limbs (prosthesis and assistive devices such as wheelchairs, crutches and walking sticks etc); 04. Psychosocial Support such as counselling to address trauma and to assist the victim and the family to adjust to the new situation; 05. Social and Economic Reintegration which includes a monthly allowance to victims, support to construct houses, selfemployment assistance, medical allowance including livelihood support, vocational training and skills development for employment and; 06. Legislation and Policy Support which ensures disability access to buildings, 3% State sector employment, special Identity Card for priority public service and domestication of the legislation of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disability to ensure civic, political, economic and social rights of mine-affected victims said Mr V. Sivagnanasothy, Secretary to the Ministry.