CAIRO: In observance of the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, representative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Ministry of International Cooperation, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Executive Secretariat for the De-mining and Development of the North West Coast oversaw the signing of the first mine detector purchasing contract by the civilian-led De-mining Secretariat of the Ministry of International Cooperation. The International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, declared by the UN General Assembly, aims to raise awareness about landmines, explosive remnants of war (ERW), and progress toward their eradication. Attending the event at the Diplomatic Club were Fayza Aboulnaga, Minister of International Cooperation, Dr Osman Mohamed Osman, Minister of State for Economic Development, Ambassador Fathy El Shazly, National Project Director of the Executive Secretariat for the De-mining and Development of the North West Coast, Dr Sherif Battisha, Vice President Egypt National Post Authority and Ambassador Wafaa Bassim, Chief de Cabinet, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The Egyptian government and UNDP had signed a project document last year to Support the North West Coast Development Plan and Mine Action Program: "Mine Action. Recognizing that de-mining is no longer merely a humanitarian issue but rather also a major developmental concern, this project falls within the scope of the UNDP Country Program for 2007-2011, and is associated with the Crisis Prevention and Recovery service line under the current four-year funding framework. UNDP, the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) and the UN Bureau of Crisis Prevention and Recovery (UN-BCPR) have been collaborating on humanitarian de-mining or "Mine Action initiatives since over a decade. The United Nations' work in more than 30 countries in Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East (including Egypt) have exemplified time and again the truly integrated and national nature of successful mine action programmes. The UN brings a wealth of international experience to pave the way towards more effective Mine Action programs. This experience offers means of achieving closer cooperation between national authorities, their implementing agencies, and the international community. "The level of cooperation between the different parties involved in Egypt's Mine Action program is first rate, said UNDP Resident Representative James W. Rawley. "This exemplary level of cooperation is largely credited to the Government of Egypt's leadership and particularly to the Minister of International Cooperation, Fayza Aboulnaga's efforts. The Mine Action programme in Egypt is currently well into the first, planning and initiation phase and has completed a Level One Impact Survey during this past year. The baseline information from this survey allowed the national Mine Action programme to target the most vulnerable communities, thereby making the most efficient use of national and donor resources. As of this month, five of the fourteen 'high-impact' communities have become mine-free and surveys are currently underway in other communities. Mine awareness activities have been completed in all of the high impact communities. UNDP in particular has so far provided the necessary technical assistance to ensure the development of the required expertise of the Executive Secretariat of the Ministry of International Cooperation. In addition to the technical, advisory and capacity developing support, UNDP is playing a key role in donor coordination and providing support to the Government, especially the Ministry of International Cooperation, in resource mobilization activities from donors, including the private sector. The Mine Action project is funded by the Ministry of International Cooperation, UNDP's Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery (BCPR), USAID, United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) and the UK's Department for International Development (DFID).
