Last week, Israel’s National Mine Action Authority (INMAA), under the Ministry of Defense, hosted a delegation from Colombia for a week of instructional sessions on mine-clearing procedure and practices. The group consisted of eight members, both military and civilian, and was invited as part of Israel’s participation in the Global Demining Initiative to clear Colombia from landmines over the next five years.

Most of the landmines in Colombia are the result of decades of conflict between the military and armed groups and organizations. The number of victims of mines in Colombia is among the highest in the world, second only to Afghanistan. From 1990-2015, over 11,400 people have been killed or injured by mines or unexploded ordinance.

The delegation participated in the tailor-made Spanish-language workshop focusing on: land release process, strategies and national efficiency in mine action; quality and results-based management; and technology and information management in mine action.

The workshop sessions held by INMAA took place over five days, and included theoretical lessons, practical field activities, tours of current mine-clearance sites in the Golan Heights and the Arava, as well as presentations from various technology suppliers.

About INMAA:

Developed in 2011, INMAA was established with the goal of strategically clearing Israel’s minefields no longer deemed necessary by the IDF, in order to reduce risks posed to the surrounding civilian populations. It organizes the country’s demining priorities, sets the national demining vision and cooperates with the IDF and other government authorities. Since its founding, INMAA has cleared tens of thousands of different types of mines scattered across thousands of acres of land all throughout Israel. The released lands are turned into tourist parks, nature reserves, agricultural lands and more.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)