Cluster munitions

As a continuation of Norway’s long-term support to humanitarian mine action in South of Lebanon, the Norwegian Ministry of Foreign affairs has granted over one million USD to Mines Advisory Group (MAG).

“At last it is clear that the convention banning cluster munitions will enter into force. With this convention, we have helped to make the world a safer place, strengthened humanitarian law and, not least, ensured that victims will receive assistance,” said Foreign Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.

On the 11th of November 2009, Ambassador Aud Lise Norheim visited Norwegian People’s Aid (NPA) Mine Action Programme in southern Lebanon. During the visit, the deminers working on the ground presented their tools and methods. It was evident that the deminers were doing important work in the most precise and secure way possible.

The three ambassadors and their team from the Norwegian, Australian and British embassies met tough competition in a football match were they eventually went down and lost 2-1 to the mine victims’ team on Saturday 4. April at Insar Stadium , South Lebanon .

In an effort to restore livelihoods and promote post-conflict reconstruction and regeneration, The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has granted Mines Advisory Group (MAG) 7.5 million NOK, worth approximately 1 050 000 USD.

Due to the strict security routines of the Norwegian People's Aid mine and cluster removal programme, there have been no accidents among its staff. The NPA has four teams working with the removal of clusters in South Lebanon, providing valuable work and potentially saving hundreds of lives.

125 states took part in the signing ceremony in Oslo City Hall on December 3rd. Four of them, including Norway, have already ratified it. Lebanon was the third country to sign the convention, following Norway, the host nation, and Laos, another country suffering heavily from remains of cluster munitions.