| STAMFORD,
Conn. – Improved methods of land mine detection,
including the use of specially trained dogs, will
be part of a demining project in Mozambique supported
by the United Methodist Board of Global Ministries.
The
new methods are far superior to the painstaking
and dangerous work required with the use of metal
detectors, according to the Rev. Paul Dirdak, chief
executive of the board's United Methodist Committee
on Relief (UMCOR). Dirdak, who made a site visit
to Mozambique in March, reported to board directors
at their April 23-26 spring meeting.
At its
annual meeting last October, the board committed
$1 million to removing land mines in the African
country. The project is proceeding in cooperation
with the Accelerated Demining Program (ADP), a national
effort run by the Mozambique government and the
United Nations Development Programme.
The
Board of Global Ministries will cover the cost of
one or more Mine Detection Dog teams of two dogs
each, which are trained in Texas. The estimated
cost is $25,000 per dog. Dogs currently used by
ADP are provided by the U.S. government as part
of an umbrella contract with the U.N. agency.
No dogs
have been lost to the mines, and they are treated
immediately for cuts, abrasions, infections or parasites.
The dog is trained to smell the outgassing of the
mine's explosive and will point to it without stepping
on it, Dirdak said.
The
dog teams work with a machine called the Mine Tech
Agri Flail, which is more efficient than a bulldozer
or metal detector in exposing land mines on the
ground. Made in England and provided in Africa by
Mine Tech of Zimbabwe, the flail's engine and driver's
compartment are protected by armor. The dogs, which
have their own veterinary paramedics, inspect areas
cleared by the flail for mines.
The
board will fund two months of a trial of the machine
being conducted by ADP. "This machine will
reduce a project that otherwise would have taken
10 months to a two-month project," Dirdak said.
"It's a tremendous advantage."
ADP
hopes to make better headway in clearing Mozambique
of mines using a combination of the flail, dog teams
and its own human staff of 500 people. Every platoon
of 32 people has two paramedics, and those with
dogs have veterinary paramedics as well. The organization
also has its own pharmacy, surgeons, evacuation
vehicles and paramedic training. Injured staff members
retain their jobs and are trained in communications
or computer applications.
The Mine Tech Agri Flail efficiently exposes land
mines. One project this year will be on the Juletene
Methodist Mission property in Mozambique.
ADP
is scheduled to clear land mines this year from
the Juletene Methodist Mission property in the Distrito
De Zavala, and the Board of Global Ministries will
support the United Methodist Church of Mozambique
in establishing a secondary school on that property.
Currently, children in the village must walk to
a school eight kilometers away. The two United Methodist
bodies will support other village development projects
once specific regions have been demined.
People
wishing to support the land mine removal efforts
in Mozambique and other countries can make contributions
to UMCOR Advance #982575, "Landmine Removal,
World." Donations can be dropped in church
collection plates or mailed to UMCOR at 475 Riverside
Dr., Room 330, New York, NY 10115.
Photo
Credits: UMCOR, GBGM, Mozambique 2001
Source: United Methodist News Service, News media
Contact: Linda Bloom • (212) 870-3803
April 30, 2001
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