KABUL: Officials from at least seven mine-clearance organizations in Afghanistan told Mullah Nooruddin Turabi, head of the National Disaster Management Authority, that budget cuts have reduced their operational budgets.
The National Disaster Management Authority said in a statement on Tuesday night, that the representatives from organizations of HAMRO, ACDDO, MCPA, AREA, DAFA, OMAR, and ATC requested that the authorities provide funding for their activities.
They argued that securing funds from Afghanistan’s domestic revenues would not only help clear mine-affected areas but would also signal to donors that mine clearance is a priority for the authorities, potentially leading to increased funding support.
Meanwhile, Mullah Nooruddin Turabi mentioned that he receives daily reports of mine and unexploded ordnance explosions from various areas, which pose significant risks to Afghan citizens.
He assured that efforts would be made to allocate some budget for the continuation of mine clearance activities in Afghanistan in the next fiscal year.
Afghanistan is one of the countries with extensive land contaminated by mines and unexploded ordnance due to decades of ongoing conflict and warfare. Recently, a large 500-kilogram mine was discovered and defused in Herat province, left over from past conflicts in the area.
Afghan Mine Clearance organizations seek support amid budget cuts
