Mine Action

The U.S. Government humanitarian mine action program assists selected countries in relieving human suffering and in developing an indigenous mine action capability while promoting U.S. interests. The program provides increased humanitarian mine action assistance to countries suffering from the presence of persistent landmines, which maim and kill innocents, obstruct emergency assistance activities, hamper economic development, and impede free movement of citizens.

Through a grant from the mine action program,  the Djiboutian military has cleared hundreds of anti-personnel and anti-tank mines that once covered one-third of the nation. On January 29, 2004 Djibouti declared itself "Mine Safe" under the Ottawa Convention placing it at the forefront of the worldwide humanitarian demining effort. Through landmine detection, clearance, risk education and survivors’ assistance the Djiboutian demining program has helped make the world safer for everyone.

 

[More information about the U.S. Government humanitarian mine action program can be found in the press releases, remarks, fact sheets, etc. sections of the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement webpage.]