Naqoura, Lebanon – The United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) today observed the International Day of Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action. A ceremony at the UNIFIL Headquarters in Naqoura marked the 200th point de-mined on the Blue Line, and the head of the UN Mine Action Support Team (UNMAST) roller-skied on the road from Tyre to Naqoura on this occasion.

Speaking at the ceremony, UNIFIL Head of Mission and Force Commander Major-General Paolo Serra underlined the importance of visibly marking the Line of Withdrawal (Blue Line) as "an essential task of our mandate." He added: "Completing the process will reduce the potential for incidents and tensions in the area."

The primary operational task for UNIFIL de-mining teams is to clear paths through minefields for the Blue Line marking process. Currently, UNIFIL has 11 combat engineering teams from its Belgian, Cambodian, Chinese, French, Italian and Spanish contingents.

The Force Commander honoured the UNIFIL de-mining teams and paid tribute to the de-miners and Lebanese civilians who lost their lives or were injured by mines and unexploded ordnance.

The Programme Manager of UNMAST, Michael Hands, marked the day by roller-skiing from the city of Tyre to UNIFIL Headquarters, where he was received by the Force Commander.

This initiative is part of the UN- led "Lend-your-Leg" global campaign to stop the damage landmines still cause while showing solidarity with all survivors of landmines and other explosive remnants of war.

During 2002–2008, mine clearance in southern Lebanon was coordinated by UN Mine Action Coordination Centre of Southern Lebanon (UNMACC-SL) as a partnership between the UN and Lebanese Armed Forces. With the transition of coordination authority to the Lebanon Mine Action Centre (LMAC) since January 2009, experts from UNMACC-SL – since renamed UNMAST - now operate as an integral part of UNIFIL's de-mining efforts.

As part of this coordinated effort, UNIFIL de-mining teams have since the 2006 conflict contributed to de-mining around 4.8 million square metres of affected land and destroyed more than 34,000 unexploded ordnance and mines in southern Lebanon. However, mine infestation remains a challenge in southern Lebanon as explosive remnants of war continue to claim innocent victims.