Tolima. The presentation of lands free of suspicion of contamination by antipersonnel mines, show that the mine clearance specialists are close to decontaminate the entire territory of Tolima.
The Soldiers of the Battalion of Humanitarian Demining Engineers No. 2, of the Sixth Brigade of the Fifth Division of the National Army, in the department of Tolima have cleared 90,740 square meters using the technique of manual demining and it has left to the community more than 440 million square meters free of suspicion of contamination by antipersonnel mines.
In this process, 142 elements were destroyed including antipersonnel mines, improvised explosive devices and unexploded ordnance, benefiting more than 6,600 families that can now use their lands without fear of becoming a victim of this silent enemy.
Thanks to the gained expertise, the increase of capacity, the support of the community and the great commitment of this group of self-sacrificing soldiers, it was possible to clear more than 25,000 square meters and determine more 2,716 million square meters as free of suspicion of contamination by anti-personnel mines, which correspond to the municipalities of Villarrica, Coyaima, Prado, Mariquita, Herveo, Santa Isabel and Lebanon, which would be presented to the community according to the schedule established by Decontamina Colombia.
On April 4, on the occasion of the commemoration of the international day for awareness of anti-personnel mines and in the framework of humanitarian demining in the department, the Humanitarian Demining Battalion together with the Comprehensive action Support Battalion and Development No. 5 in an imposing ceremony, presented more than 26,000 square meters cleared by manual demining technique in the municipalities of Planadas and Chaparral; in the same way they presented more than 107 million square meters as free of suspicion of contamination by antipersonnel mines, which correspond to 21 villages of the municipality of Rioblanco, benefiting more than 380 families and facilitating the progress in land restitution processes, implementation of productive, agricultural and environmental management projects, which will be guided by the Comprehensive action Battalion.
Source: Comprehensive action and Development Support Command
