Among the killed, 19 were children and among the injured, 143 were children.[break]
It was informed during a function organized by the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction to mark the 5th International Day on Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.
Available statistics say that Nepal Army had laid mines in 53 places, other security agencies together with the army in 300 places and Maoists in a large number of places.
Among the mines laid by the Nepal Army, 26 have already been cleared and the rest are expected to be cleared by the end of 2011.
Meanwhile, a team of Maoist combatants and UN Mine Action Team and coordinated by UNMIN has destroyed 52,617 explosive and dangerous materials stored in all seven Maoist cantonments.
At the program, Peace Minister Rakam Chemjong claimed significant progress in the field of mine awareness and thanked the international community for its assistance.
He said mine action is one of the priority areas of the peace process and Maoists and government have expressed commitment to clear land mines and provide compensation to the victims. He said both the sides are committed to implement their commitments.
UNICEF representative in Nepal Gillian Mellsop said UN is always ready to support mine action activities launched by Nepal government and civil society.
Purna Shobha Chitrakar, who is active in the field of clearing land mines and creating awareness about land mines, said the government initiative towards mine action is positive even though the initiative came late.
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