U.S.-supported programs have cleared over 17 million square meters of land and 6,000 kilometers of roads since 2000, thus opening large areas of the country to safe development. Nonetheless, landmines and explosive remnants of war continue to threaten public safety and obstruct development in many parts of Angola. Reconstruction and development are not possible until people have safe access to their homes, communities and land. The GRA coordinates activities by various national, international, and private organizations that are engaged in demining and destruction of explosive remnants of war.
Mine clearance and mine risk education significantly reduce the number of accidents that occur as internally displaced people open new travel routes and settle in new areas. Mine clearance in urban and semi-urban centers, especially along roads, continues to be necessary in many areas of the country.
To support a peaceful and secure Angola, the Department of State funds three international non-governmental organizations engaged in humanitarian demining and mine awareness education. The Halo Trust, Mine Advisory Group (MAG), and Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) work closely with the National Commission on Demining and Humanitarian Assistance (CNIDAH) and the National Demining Institute (INAD) to demine priority areas identified in the National Landmine Impact Survey. Then, using a combination of manual and technical means, each partner identifies, removes (if safe to do so) and destroys landmines and explosive remnants of war.
Weapons Destruction Program
U.S. assistance supports Angolan civilian and military authorities in collecting and destroying excess and obsolete weapons and munitions to promote a peaceful and secure country, a prerequisite for health, education and economic development. The NGO Halo Trust has already removed more than 74,000 weapons and more than 1,100 tons of munitions, which prevents them from falling into the hands of criminals. The Ministry of Interior and the Angolan Armed Forces organize specific activities under the voluntary collection and destruction program.
In 2010, the United States gave USD7.5 million for humanitarian demining and weapons destruction.
