Security and safety for all: EU supports Humanitarian Demining School

The Lebanese Mine Action Center inaugurated today the Regional School of Humanitarian Demining in Lebanon which has been established with the support of the European Union.

The school is the result of a successful collaboration between the EU, the EU Member States and the private sector. It will train civilians and military personnel from Lebanon and the region in mine clearance, thus contributing effectively to a safer Lebanon and responding to the needs of humanitarian demining in the region caused by conflict and terrorism.

The EU has been working very closely with the Lebanese Armed Forces on mine action. As the largest donor for mine action in Lebanon, it has committed nearly €40 million in assistance. Important work has been achieved on the clearance of about 70% of contaminated land, mine risk education and assistance to the victims of mine accidents, including medical support and job creation. The establishment of the Regional School will help to build national capacity and to ensure sustainability of EU assistance by training national clearance teams.

"The EU is committed to its long-standing support to Lebanon, particularly to the security sector. We are putting more and more effort every day to assist Lebanon secure its border, counter the threat of terrorism, manage its airport security and enhance the rule of law," Deputy Head of Mission Julia Koch de Biolley said. She added that "since 2006, more than €85 million have been committed to supporting the Lebanese Armed Forces, the Internal Security Forces, General Security and the Civil Defence, in different areas relevant to Lebanon security and more is on the way."

The EU stands alongside Lebanon in the implementation of the Oslo Convention which bans cluster munitions, and encourages the signature and ratification of the 1998 Ottawa Convention on anti-personnel mines.