Landmine removal jeopardized by decreasing funding, new report says

The European Commission, United States and eight other major donors decreased their support for mine action in 2005. Mine action includes mine clearance, mine risk education, stockpile destruction, survivor assistance and promotion of the mine ban. In 2005, global mine action funding totaled $376 million, $23 million less than the previous year. Drastic reductions in mine action funding occurred in Iraq (down $30.9 million, 53%), Afghanistan ($25 million, 27%) and Cambodia ($17.7 million, 43%).