Advancing with Activities in Colombia

ITF is advancing with its activities in Colombia! Colombia is one of the countries that are most contaminated with explosive remnants of war left behind from the 52-year old conflict that prevent the cultivation of land, development of the rural areas and pose a direct danger to the civilian population.

The new peace agreement between the Government of Colombia and the non-state armed group Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia – FARC) ended the conflict and prevents further use of landmines and improvised explosive devices. It also facilitates the implementation of clearance activities by national demining capacities as well as international NGOs and commercial companies. For the purpose of helping Colombia reach its mine action goals the international community established the Global Initiative for Colombia.

Therefore, it is of outmost importance to strengthen local demining capacities and strengthen the presence of the Directorate for Integral Action against Antipersonnel Mines (DAICMA) in the territories that have the highest degree of mine contamination.

ITF, supported by the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD), is now starting a project to help DAICMA establish a team of Quality Managers responsible for monitoring the quality management processes of Mine Action activities. The project will thereby make possible the optimisation and strengthening of the Quality Management System required for the implementation of mine action operations under DAICMA national coordination responsibility.