U.S. EMBASSY HELPS ARMENIAN RED CROSS RAISE MONEY TO SUPPORT THE FIGHT AGAINST LAND MINES
Arminfo
2007-04-12 18:47:00
At a fundraising reception on April 11, 2007, the U.S. Embassy in
Armenia helped the Armenian Red Cross raise over $4,000 for the fight
against landmines in Armenia, reports the press service of the US
Embassy in Armenia.
The reception was held as part of the "Night of a Thousand Dinners,"
a global event initiated in 2001 by the U.S. State Department under
the leadership of former Secretary of State Colin Powell. The purpose
of the reception was to increase awareness about the international
land mine crisis, and to raise funds for the Armenian Red Cross,
a local NGO that is working to reduce landmine casualties through a
mine risk education program. The event was one of many taking place
around the world in recognition of International Day for Mine Action.
While the scale of the landmine problem is hard to measure, the United
Nations Development Program reports that between 80,000 and 100,000
landmines remain buried in Armenia. These mines affect people living
in 60 communities, in five of Armenia’s eleven marzes. Over the past
decade, the United States has been the largest donor to landmine issues
and has spent over $1 billion dollars for mine action programs in
nearly 50 countries around the world. Since 2002, the United States
has provided more than $6.5 million dollars in humanitarian mine
assistance to Armenia.
During his opening remarks, U.S. Charge d’Affairs Anthony F. Godfrey
said, "The United States government is committed to addressing
the legacy and threat of persistent landmines and unexploded
ordnance:However, much more needs to be done, both by governments
and by concerned individuals and groups."