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REMOVING LANDMINES AND CLUSTER BOMBS IN KARABAKH - ONE VILLAGE AT A TIME
10:43, November 5, 2013
Though fighting ceased 19 years ago, the people of Nagorno Karabakh
continue to suffer, as the 1992-94 war between Armenia and Azerbaijan
left behind hundreds of minefields and cluster bomb strikes. In fact,
Karabakh has one of the world's highest per capita mine casualty
rates - on a par with Afghanistan and surpassing Cambodia. A quarter
of the victims in Karabakh are children.
One local group from Los Angeles, CA is trying to change this sad fact
one village at a time. The Landmine Free Artsakh Campaign is made up
of concerned citizens who care for human life and have volunteered to
raise funds for landmine and UXO removal in Artsakh. Their mission is
to generate awareness about the landmine problem and to help fundraise
to completely de-mine all villages. These villages are in the Lachin,
Hadrut and Maruni regions where no international grants and funds
can be secured. Without private funding these minefields might never
be cleared.
They are currently raising money to clear a minefield in Karegah
Village, Lachin Region, where anti-personnel landmines put the
community at risk. Their efforts have raised over $15,000 of the
$35,000 required to help make the village of 310 persons safer. Once
the full funds are secured clearance will take approximately 17 weeks
to complete. The land will then be handed back to the local people
to graze cattle, forage for nuts, berries and wild mushrooms, hunt
and cut wood - things they need to do in order to provide for their
families. To date, the Landmine Free Artsakh Campaign has organized
the following events and programs:
~U September 28th , art exhibition fundraiser at Hollywood Production
Center in Glendale, CA
~U October 1st presentation at Ferrahian High School, Encino CA for
11th and 12th graders and their teachers
~U October 3rd, presentation sponsored by the Glendale Community
College Armenian Student Association
~U October 8th , presentation at Charlie Keyan Armenian Community
School co-sponsored by The California State University, Fresno
Armenian Studies Program, The Keyan Armenian Community School, The
ARS Sophia Chapter, the Armenian Technology Group, and the Armenian
General Benevolent Union
~U October 13th, presentation and fundraiser featuring Mark Geragos
and Gor Mkhitarian at Zorayan Museum, Burbank, CA
~U October 16th, presentation at Alex Pilibos Armenian School, Los
Angeles, CA for 9-12th graders and their teachers
~U October 20th, presentation at Homentmen South Bay "Arakatz" Chapter,
Lomita, CA
Interviews:
~U Oct. 3rd , Barev TV with Nune Avedisyan (Charter Cable Channel 384)
~U Oct. 10 , AABC TV with Vrej Agajanian (Charter Cable Channel 384)
~U Oct. 15, Shant TV
Funds raised by Landmine Free Artsakh Campaign go directly to HALO
Trust, the world's oldest and largest humanitarian landmine clearance
organization. HALO employs 170 local Karabakhi staff, supported by
only one international manager, as the only mine clearance operator in
Artsakh. Since 1994, HALO has cleared 85% of the minefields and over
63% of cluster munition strikes; locating and destroying over 10,671
mines and over 57,151 items of UXO. HALO is a registered charity in
the UK and a 501c3 nonprofit organization in the US.
96.2% of your donation goes directly to our field operations. To
learn more or donate please visit: Landmine Free Artsakh -
www.landminefreeartsakh.com
http://hetq.am/eng/news/30467/removing-landmines-and-cluster-bombs-in-karabakh-%E2%80%93-one-village-at-a-time.html
From: A. Papazian
10:43, November 5, 2013
Though fighting ceased 19 years ago, the people of Nagorno Karabakh
continue to suffer, as the 1992-94 war between Armenia and Azerbaijan
left behind hundreds of minefields and cluster bomb strikes. In fact,
Karabakh has one of the world's highest per capita mine casualty
rates - on a par with Afghanistan and surpassing Cambodia. A quarter
of the victims in Karabakh are children.
One local group from Los Angeles, CA is trying to change this sad fact
one village at a time. The Landmine Free Artsakh Campaign is made up
of concerned citizens who care for human life and have volunteered to
raise funds for landmine and UXO removal in Artsakh. Their mission is
to generate awareness about the landmine problem and to help fundraise
to completely de-mine all villages. These villages are in the Lachin,
Hadrut and Maruni regions where no international grants and funds
can be secured. Without private funding these minefields might never
be cleared.
They are currently raising money to clear a minefield in Karegah
Village, Lachin Region, where anti-personnel landmines put the
community at risk. Their efforts have raised over $15,000 of the
$35,000 required to help make the village of 310 persons safer. Once
the full funds are secured clearance will take approximately 17 weeks
to complete. The land will then be handed back to the local people
to graze cattle, forage for nuts, berries and wild mushrooms, hunt
and cut wood - things they need to do in order to provide for their
families. To date, the Landmine Free Artsakh Campaign has organized
the following events and programs:
~U September 28th , art exhibition fundraiser at Hollywood Production
Center in Glendale, CA
~U October 1st presentation at Ferrahian High School, Encino CA for
11th and 12th graders and their teachers
~U October 3rd, presentation sponsored by the Glendale Community
College Armenian Student Association
~U October 8th , presentation at Charlie Keyan Armenian Community
School co-sponsored by The California State University, Fresno
Armenian Studies Program, The Keyan Armenian Community School, The
ARS Sophia Chapter, the Armenian Technology Group, and the Armenian
General Benevolent Union
~U October 13th, presentation and fundraiser featuring Mark Geragos
and Gor Mkhitarian at Zorayan Museum, Burbank, CA
~U October 16th, presentation at Alex Pilibos Armenian School, Los
Angeles, CA for 9-12th graders and their teachers
~U October 20th, presentation at Homentmen South Bay "Arakatz" Chapter,
Lomita, CA
Interviews:
~U Oct. 3rd , Barev TV with Nune Avedisyan (Charter Cable Channel 384)
~U Oct. 10 , AABC TV with Vrej Agajanian (Charter Cable Channel 384)
~U Oct. 15, Shant TV
Funds raised by Landmine Free Artsakh Campaign go directly to HALO
Trust, the world's oldest and largest humanitarian landmine clearance
organization. HALO employs 170 local Karabakhi staff, supported by
only one international manager, as the only mine clearance operator in
Artsakh. Since 1994, HALO has cleared 85% of the minefields and over
63% of cluster munition strikes; locating and destroying over 10,671
mines and over 57,151 items of UXO. HALO is a registered charity in
the UK and a 501c3 nonprofit organization in the US.
96.2% of your donation goes directly to our field operations. To
learn more or donate please visit: Landmine Free Artsakh -
www.landminefreeartsakh.com
http://hetq.am/eng/news/30467/removing-landmines-and-cluster-bombs-in-karabakh-%E2%80%93-one-village-at-a-time.html
From: A. Papazian