Press Release

Mine Risk Awareness Campaign Launched

Mr. Yahya Ould Kebd, Minister of Decentralization and Regional Planning, presided today in Nouadhibou at a ceremony to launch a public awareness campaign about the dangers of landmines in northern Mauritania.

The campaign of distribution of printed materials begins with Nouadhibou and will be extended to nine other areas, located between Nouadhibou and Hassi Lewkar, covering regions of Tiris Zemour, Adrar and Dakhlet Nouadhibou.

The American contribution to this campaign amounts to $115,000 (more than 31 million Ouguiyas).

US Embassy with cooperation of Humanitarian Mine Action office of European Command (HMA-EUCOM) has developed a mine risk education program in partnership with the Ministry of Decentralization and Regional Planning to provide mine risk education training in the mine affected areas in Mauritania.

The HMA-EUCOM coordinated with Mauritanian NGO, NEDWA to design and teach the program throughout the three regions. This partnership was established in January 2007 at the request of US Embassy in Mauritania. 

Nouadhibou, November 13, 2007