April 4 is International Mine Awareness Day.  As the world marks this day, U.S. Africa Command joins the observance through its support of demining efforts across Africa. 

In 2005, the United Nations General Assembly declared that April 4 of each year shall be observed as the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.  The theme for 2014 is “Women in Mine Action.”

A statement posted on the UN’s website reads, “The United Nations has a proud record of helping millions of people in mine-affected countries.  On this International Day, let us resolve to mobilize the resources, partners and resolve we need to further advance our vision of a planet free from mines.” - Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s message for the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, 4 April 2014.

At U.S. AFRICOM, the Humanitarian Mine Action branch within the directorate for Plans and Programs (J5), manages a program to provide training to African partner nations by explosive ordnance experts who teach others how to locate and disable landmines.   

In 2013 U.S. AFRICOM directorates, components and supporting agencies conducted 22 mine action training missions with nine African partner nations - Burundi, Chad, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Kenya, Namibia, Tanzania, Senegal and South Sudan.

U.S. Africa Command also supports awareness, educational and mission training missions in Africa. Training focuses on Explosive Ordnance Disposal, International Mine Action Standards, Explosive Remnants of War operations, medical first responder, basic and advanced demining, and stockpile management and destruction. 

The training and engagement builds partnerships with governments, NGOs, and international organizations to implement mine risk education, thus enhancing sector security and regional stability.

You can follow the conversation on Twitter at #nomoremines or #mineaction2014.  For more on International Day of Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, see the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) and other UN websites: 

http://www.mineaction.org/unmas

http://www.un.org/en/events/mineawarenessday/

http://www.un.org/en/events/mineawarenessday/2014/sg_message.shtml