Photo exhibition showing Danish Demining and the victims of mine accidents in Afghanistan marks UN International day for mine awareness and assistance in mine action.

Danish Demining Group – the mine action team of the Danish Refugee Council is behind part of a month-long exhibition in the General Assembly Building in New York beginning April 4. The Exhibition Enduring Fear, showing photographs by Charlotte Østervang about mine action, landmines, explosive remnants of war and the people affected by them.

“Mine clearance and mine education are vital parts of the process to ensure development and peace in Afghanistan. Each month about 150 – 300 Afghans are killed or injured by mines – the majority of victims are children and teenagers. That is what we are fighting against, and that is what photographer Charlotte Østervangs pictures are about. We are very pleased that the UN has chosen her pictures to mark the International Mine Action day,” says head of Danish Deming Group Anette Christoffersen.

The Danish Demining Group has worked in Afghanistan since 1999 finding and destroying landmines and explosive remnants of war, teaching people how to remain safe in a mine-affected environment and providing assistance to victims.

April 4, which the UN General Assembly has declared the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, is being celebrated all over the world. The purpose is to raise awareness about landmines, explosive remnants of war, and progress toward their eradication.

Landmines and explosive remnants of war continue to kill or injure as many as 15,000 people a year. The overwhelming majority are civilians who trigger these devices years or even decades after a conflict ends.  In some countries, such as Afghanistan, the majority of victims are under the age of 18.

“April 4 is an important day in helping us to keep the public and media focus on the many mines that contaminate and threats civilians living in countries at war – or which have formerly been at war. Mine Action is fundamental if we are to help people affected by war and conflicts and give them a possibility to rebuild their country and their everyday life,” says Anette Christoffersen.

The month-long photo exhibition opens April 4 at 1 p.m. inside the UN visitors lobby in the General Assembly Building. The UN further commemorate the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action by hosting a mock minefield and free demining demonstrations on the North Lawn.

In Denmark, Contact Anette Christoffersen, head of the Danish Demining Group, +45 33 73 50 06
In New York, contact Richard Kollodge, UN Mine Action Service, +1-212 963-5677.

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