Dog demining team © Jacob Simkin

The city, which is located 130 kilometers southwest of Kabul, is currently being cleared of landmines and unexploded ordnance left by decades of war, by teams recruited from the local community. Fifty jobs have already been created in the city as part of the demining project.

The teams are being trained and supervised by experienced staff from the Organization of Mine Clearance & Afghan Rehabilitation (OMAR). This local approach to de-mining operations ensures community participation, stimulates the local economy and strengthens the capacity of Afghanistan’s people to recover valuable territory from the threat of landmines.

Ghazni has a rich history dating back to the seventh century and is due to be recognized as an Islamic Centre of Civilization by the Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 2013.

In advance of this landmark event, the de-mining teams working with OMAR are planning to clear nine of 48 identified landmine sites currently contaminating areas of historical importance, residential areas and farmland.

Eight manual clearance teams will be deployed, including one mechanical mine removal unit, one canine team and one explosive ordnance disposal team. Once further training has been completed, all eight teams will be fully comprised of locally recruited staff. Funding for the project is provided by the Government of Canada through the Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Action which is managed by the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS). UNOPS provides implementation support to UNMAS for this project.