Slovenian-Run ITF and UN Anti-Mine Fund Join Forces
The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) and the Slovenian-run International Demining Fund (ITF) have signed an agreement which determines the areas in which they are to cooperate as part of a global anti-mine initiative, the fund said in a press release on Tuesday.
According to ITF director Goran Gacnik, the agreement points to "the importance of this strategic partnership which will join knowledge, experience and resources in tackling the global problem of mines".
UNMAS was established in 1997 and aims at coordinating all aspects of the UN's anti-mine activities. It supports demining activities in humanitarian and peace-keeping operations and is a focal point of the UN's vision - "a world liberated from the danger of anti-personnel mines".
The ITF is a non-profit organisation established by the Slovenian government in 1998 to help Bosnia-Herzegovina in its efforts to demine the country and help mine victims. The fund has become a leading demining institution in southeastern Europe, helping mine victims and organising mine danger awareness programmes. It is currently active in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Montenegro, Croatia, Macedonia and Serbia.
The ITF has helped demine more than 76 million sq. metres of mine-infested land in southeastern Europe, and has also directly helped 921 mine victims. More than 60,000 people have participated in the mine danger awareness programmes organised by the fund.
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