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National Army Engineers Mark the International Day for Mine Awareness (video)



CHISINAU, April 4, 2017 — Today is the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.

On this occasion, the engineers of “Codru” Battalion are holding informative lessons in the educational institutions from Straseni regarding the risk of unexploded ammunition in the Republic of Moldova, as well as how to behave in case of its discovery.

According to head of National Army Engineer Service, LTC Serghei Chilivnic, yearly, the National Army engineer teams find and destroy hundreds of explosive objects. 98% of these date back to World War II, while other 2% — to the period of 1992 War.

The source specified that, only last year, the engineers neutralized about 700 explosive objects throughout the country, the most being found in villages from Stefan Voda, Causeni, Cantemir, Soroca, Orhei, and Anenii Noi districts.

In order to prevent the danger of unexploded ammunition, the Ministry of Defense and OSCE Mission in the Republic of Moldova conducted information campaigns for the Moldovan population during 2011-2014. The two institutions printed 20,000 folders and 3,000 posters that were distributed to schools by mobile teams consisting of military engineers and OSCE representatives.

On December 8, 2005, the United Nations decided, through Resolution 60/97, to mark the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action every year, on April 4.

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The National Army Engineer Service calls upon local authorities and Moldovan population on how to behave in case of discovering ammunition elements.

Taking into account that the most part of explosive objects are found by locals during agricultural works, the military engineers are informing that it is forbidden to touch the ammunition with the hands or with other objects, to kick or move the ammunition found in the soil or on surface, to dismantle the warheads or other components, for children to play with different ammunition elements, to transport or take the ammunition inside buildings or houses.

At the same time, the citizens should know that it is forbidden the access of people, especially children, to the areas in which exist or it is supposed the existence of unexploded objects, to manually or mechanically dig in these areas, to work the land, to cross with vehicles or animals. In these cases, those who find the ammunition must immediately inform the local authorities who will request the assistance of engineer teams.

Regardless of the conditions or age of ammunition elements, the danger that they might be active and explode is maximal. Thus, any operation on the unexploded ammunition must be conducted only by specialized personnel, in strict compliance of security procedures.

Since 1992 and so far, 21 persons died and 26 were wounded as a result of the explosion of different ammunition. Out of the total number of victims, seven children died, and other three were wounded.

Video — sequences of the video made by the Ministry of Defense and OSCE Mission in the Republic of Moldova during the information campaign on the danger of unexploded ammunition in the Republic of Moldova.


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