Italy contributes to UNDP mine program [Archives:2005/804/Local News]

A UNDP press release from 27 Dec. 2004 says that following its support for the first phase of the UNDP-Supported Yemen Mine Action Programme, the Italian Government will provide an additional contribution of EUR 150,000 to the second phase of the Programme through the UNDP's Thematic Trust Fund for Crisis Prevention and Recovery to support Mine Action Projects. Building on the excellent results achieved under the programme's first phase, the second phase, which started in October 2003, and will last until December 2006 will focus on strengthening the technical capacity of the Yemen Mine Action Programme, improving the safety of the mine affected communities, contributing to the Yemeni economy by safely returning de-mined land to the country for productive use, and developing awareness raising programmes.

This contribution will be added to the initial US$ 3.4 million that has been secured so far from UNDP for this phase. These contributions supplement the US$ 13.1 million that was generated for the first phase of the UNDP Mine Action Support Project from the Governments of Italy, the United States, Japan, Netherlands, Norway, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Additional specific support to the Yemen Mine Action Programme is given by Italy through the Cooperation Agreement signed in Florence on 18 December 2003 between the Tuscany Region and the Minister of State and Chairman of the National Mine Action Committee, aimed at granting free of charge medical treatment to Yemeni children victims of mine explosion. The agreement has already allowed the rehabilitation of two severely injured young Yemenis.
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