Halo Trust: Abkhazian territory is completely de-mined

The territory of Abkhazia has been cleared of mines. This was reported by the British de-mining NGO Halo Trust. In this regard, the organization almost closed its activities in the country.

The Halo Trust had been working in Abkhazia for 14 years, and during that time it had cleared 336 minefields, destroyed 9788 mines and about 50,000 ammunitions that remained in the territory of the republic after the Abkhazian-Georgian conflict of 1992-93. Initially, the NGO had planned to complete de-mining of the republic's territory, at first, by the end of 2006, and then by the end of 2007. Those plans were changed because of Georgian-Russian conflict in August 2008.

"The main work in Abkhazia was carried out by local staff. During last several years, no foreign representative of the Halo Trust worked in the republic," stated Guy Willoughby, the director of the NGO's main office, in his report on progress in the 14-year work.

According to him, "it is very difficult and dangerous job." Thus, 11 sappers were injured during the de-mining work.

According to Ismet Zade, the Abkhazian manager of the Halo Trust, after the war, people died of mines, many children got injured, and a large number of cattle had been destroyed in villages. Prior to the NGO's coming to Abkhazia, 479 mine explosions occurred, 110 of them were fatal ones.

Andrew Moore, Regional Manager of the Halo Trust for the Caucasus, has emphasized that, to continue further de-mining of unexploded ammunition, the two NGO's team will stay in Abkhazia (in the cities of Sukhumi and Gali), and they will respond to all calls from residents.