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Sudan needs USD 91 mln to remove mines - official

KHARTOUM, May 16 (KUNA) -- Sudan said Saturday it needed USD 91 million to remove all mines and explosive ordnance left from conflicts in different States nationwide.
Director of Sudan's National Mine Action Center Amer Abdulsadeq said he informed Aristide Nononsi, the international independent expert on the situation of human rights in Sudan, about challenges facing Sudan to remove the mines.
Speaking to reporters after his meeting with Nononsi, Abdulsadeq said he explained how Sudan was short of financial resources to remove the mines especially after the separation of South Sudan in 2011.
"We have informed him about the government's efforts to declare Sudan a country free of mines, and how the American economic sanctions against Sudan have prevented the clearance of land mines," he said.
The UN and Sudan has since 2002 succeeded in removing mines from 29 square kilometers, as well as offering awareness programs about threats of mines.
Sudan contained around a million mines before the 2011 separation of South Sudan, according to official figures. (end) hhi.bs