Huambo - Four million dollars have recently been donated by the United States of America (U.S.A) for the demining process still happening in Angola, in the ambit of the governmental programme focused on making Angola become free of landmines by 2025.
The announcement was made last Sunday by the counsellor-minister of the U.S Embassy in Angola, Constance Arvis, during a ceremony that served to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the visit to Angola of the late Princess Diana.
The American diplomat explained that from the referred amount, USD 2 million will be handed to the British non-governmental organisation The Helo Trust to contribute to the project dubbed “Huambo livre de minas” (Huambo free from landmines), as well as to support the demining works in Cuito Cuanavale Municipality, south-eastern Cuando Cubango Province.
She then explained that with this donation, the U.S.A intends to contribute to the clarification of mined zones, so that soon it can be declared that Angola is free from landmines.
As regards the other USD 2 million, she informed that this amount will be handed to the NGOs Mines Advisory Group (MAG) and the Norwegian People’s Aid, which have been operating in the provinces of Moxico (east) and Malanje (north-central).
Constance Arvis then explained that her country is committed to the Huambo free from landmines programme, so it is focusing on assisting the Angolan government to fulfil the set deadline for this task.
The diplomat also informed that since 1995, the USA invested about USD 125 million in demining programmes in Angola, which reflects the existing good co-operation between the two countries.