Demining: vital exchange of experience
The international annual meeting of mine action professionals will take place in Geneva from 7 to 10 February. An opportunity for some 400 organisations and institutions to exchange experiences, it is a key event for Handicap International.
Handicap International trains mine clearance experts in Colombia in preparation for demining operations in three of the country’s southern departments | © J.M. Vargas/Handicap International
Funding bodies, States committed to mine clearance or victim assistance operations, national mine clearance centres, private companies and humanitarian demining organisations are among the mine action actors meeting in Geneva this week. They will share their experiences, present the latest mine clearance techniques, and discuss the outlook for the future of mine action. This year, improvised explosive devices, deployed regularly in Syria and Iraq, will provide the focus of discussions, as will the use of drones, mine geolocation tools, and information sharing by partners during mine clearance operations.
For Handicap International, represented at the meeting by a large delegation, this unique four-day event is an opportunity to share analyses, compare operating methods, liaise with national authorities, and form new partnerships.
