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Hargeisa (Agenzia Fides) – Recently Somalia's self-declared independent region of Somaliland has experienced an increase in landmine and unexploded ordnance (UXO). In a note from Ahmed Ali Maah, director of the Somaliland Mine Action Center (SMAC), a copy of which was sent to Fides, he says that child victims of land mines have recently increased in Somaliland. “Some 93 children have been killed by landmines in the past three years,” says the director. In December two were wounded and in Januray, three died and another five were wounded. The latest incident occurred on 27 January in Sheedaha settlement in Hargeisa's Kodbur District: One child died and two others were injured when a landmine exploded in a playground. According to SMAC, landmines were laid in Somaliland over two decades, and during three different conflicts. The first conflict (1964) and the second (1977-78) were between the Somali Democratic Republic and Ethiopia over what is now Ethiopia's Somali Region. The third conflict (1981-91) was when the Somali National Movement waged an armed struggle against the Somali National Army of the then Somali president, Mohamed Siyad Barre. According to the UN Development Programme (UNDP), 400,000-800,000 landmines were laid in Somaliland between 1988 and 1991 alone. At least 24 types of anti-personnel mines from 10 different countries have been identified in Somaliland. UN officials are calling for mine awareness education in schools. (AP) (2/2/2011 Agenzia Fides)
