At least 20 thousand mines have been made safe and removed in South Sudan since peace was signed in January 9, 2005.
David Gressly, UNMIS regional coordinator for South Sudan, said yesterday that civilian and military de-miners destroyed over 20 thousand anti-personnel and anti-tank mines and more than 500 thousand pieces of unexploded weapons in all the ten states of South Sudan.He added that more than 18,000 kilometres of roads were cleared of mines an opened to traffic.
The whole de-mining operation cost over 200 million US dollars.
Mr. Gressly added that the UN was looking for funds to clear areas that were re-mined recently in Unity and Jonglei states by militia forces.
Lance Malin, Chief of Operations of the UN Mine Action, said de-mining will continue until all mines have been destroyed in the region.