ENDF, the U.S. Embassy launch groundbreaking de-mining initiative
Addis Ababa, January 16, 2024 (FBC) – The Ethiopian National Defense Forces (ENDF)’s Mine Action Office (MAO) and the U.S. Embassy in Ethiopia’s Office of Security Cooperation in collaboration with the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD)’s Humanitarian Training Demining Center launched Requirements Development Site Survey, a groundbreaking collaboration to de-mine areas that previously experienced conflicts in the country.
The collaboration was initiated on January 15 in order to help the Ethiopian Defense Forces address explosive remnants in conflict-affected areas in Ethiopia, ENDF and the U.S Embassy said via social media posts.
From January 15-19, the Ethiopian Mine Action Office (EMAO) will work with a team from the DOD’s Humanitarian Demining Training Center and the U.S. Department of State’s Weapons Removal and Abatement program to conduct a Requirements Development Site Survey. The survey, according to the U.S. Embassy, aims to improving civilian safety and agricultural productivity in conflict-affected regions in Ethiopia by identifying the scale of the explosive remnants of war contamination throughout the country.
Speaking on the experience exchange and exercises, Head of the Ethiopian Mine Action Office (EMAO), Brigadier General Taddese Amelo, stated that EMAO has been in existence for more than 20 years and has been working with the responsibility of de-mining war remnants.
He also recalled that EMAO has been working in cooperation with foreign organizations hitherto. Brigadier General Taddese also highlighted the importance of the latest collaboration with the U.S. Embassy.
Major Nathan Jolls, Head of Office of Security Cooperation of the Embassy, who attended the exercise, said that he is very happy to observe firsthand the activities being undertaken by EMAO.
He also stated that their visit of these activities is important to forge cooperation.
It is also mentioned that the primary objective of this exercise was to formulate a series of requirements for the EMAO, aligning them with available DoD and DoS resources. A subsequent delivery of equipment, training, and additional resources will take place within the next six months, the Embassy asserted.
For 120 years, Ethiopia and the United States have partnered in health and education, agriculture and food security, science and the environment, security, and many other areas to improve the lives of individuals.