According to NPA, more than 36.6 million square meters of land, including residential areas, roads and agricultural fields, were contaminated after the July 2006 hostilities. Since 2006, there have been 348 accidents from unexploded remnants of war in Lebanon. 44 civilians have lost their lives, of which 8 were children.
Clearing contaminated land of explosive remnants of war is vital to save and protect civilian lives. Furthermore, land must be cleared in order to restore its economical value as this land presents the only source of income for shepherds and land owners.
Working as a deminer is exhausting, both physically and mentally, but it is inspiring to see how diligently the deminers carry out their work on the ground. Inching forward, with safety as the top priority, new land is gradually cleared and can be declared safe for inhabitants to use.
On the political side, NPA has also been active in the processes leading to the signing of the Landmine Convention in 1997 and the Convention on Cluster Munitions in Oslo December 3, 2008.
Hopefully, Lebanon will one day be free for all explosive remnants of war thanks to efforts of humanitarian mine action programmes like that of NPA.