Haidari Speaks at the 2010 Clearing the Path Awards Gala
M. Ashraf Haidari was invited to deliver remarks at the 2010 Clearing the Path Awards Gala, hosted by the Marshall Legacy Institute (MLI), at the Fairmont Hotel in Washington DC on October 20, 2010. MLI, which benefits from the contributions of many organizations and individuals to help clear landmines in various countries around the world, recognized the achievements of several organizations, individuals, and a team of de-miners and their mine detection dogs. Last year, Afghan de-miner, Rayes Khan, and his MLI donated mine detection dog, were recognized as the Mine Detection Dog Team of the Year at the same gala, which Mr. Haidari attended.
Mr. Haidari joined former U.S. National Security Advisor Anthony Lake, presently the Executive Director of UNICEF, who was recognized with the 2010 Humanitarian Award for a Lifetime of Public Service, and U.S. Ambassador the United Nations Susan Rice to appreciate the contributions of many individuals, American school children and their teachers, and various organizations that have supported the hard efforts of the Marshall Legacy Institute to help clear landmines and unexploded ordnances in countries like Afghanistan.
“We are also grateful to the Marshall Legacy Institute for the significant support it continues to provide to the mine clearance programs in Afghanistan,” said Mr. Haidari. He added that “The 18 mine detection dogs, which the Institute has sent to Afghanistan since 2008, have saved many lives and prevented countless injuries from mine accidents.” He noted that despite much progress in landmine clearance in Afghanistan, violence had increased in the country. “The frequent use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDS), targeting civilians and military forces, has added to the enormous and difficult task of clearing Afghanistan of mines and other unexploded munitions,” he said.
However, Mr. Haidari pointed out that “we are encouraged by many efforts underway to change this grim picture in Afghanistan. Military operations continue to focus on protection of civilians and are carried out with and in coordination with the Afghan national security forces. And the Afghan government concurrently pursues a peaceful solution to end the ongoing conflicts, through the recent formation of a High Council for Peace.” “These efforts coupled with continued assistance from organizations like the Marshall Legacy Institute give us hope to see a dramatic reduction in casualties caused by mines and other munitions in Afghanistan, concluded Mr. Haidari.”
Remarks by M. Ashraf Haidari
2010 Clearing the Path Awards Gala
Marshall Legacy Institute
The Fairmont Hotel- Washington, DC
October 20, 2010
Senator Mike Enzi,
Ambassador Susan Rice,
Director Anthony Lake,
Honorees,
Friends and supporters of Afghanistan,
Ladies and Gentlemen:
I would like to thank the Marshall Legacy Institute (MLI) for holding this annual Gala to honor and recognize distinguished personalities for their dedication to mine clearance around the world. And I wish to extend my personal congratulations, as well as the gratitude of the Afghan Government and people, to the Honorees for their commendable humanitarian efforts to help rid the world and Afghanistan of deadly mines and unexploded ordnance so that children everywhere grow up in peace and live free from fear.
We are also grateful to the Marshall Legacy Institute for the significant support it continues to provide to the mine clearance programs in Afghanistan. The 18 mine detection dogs, which the Institute has sent to Afghanistan since 2008, have saved many lives and prevented countless injuries from mine accidents. Last year on this day, we celebrated the achievements of Rayes Khan, an Afghan de-miner, and his MLI-donated mine detection dog, named Stitch, in Afghanistan.
By this time a year ago, Rayes Khan and Stich had cleared more than 100,000 square meters of land and detected 540 fragments of mines and munitions and 84 pieces of unexploded ordnance. I am profoundly inspired by this human and animal partnership, facilitated by the Institute. Because of this and similar mine clearance programs, many Afghan farmers are able to cultivate their land for a livelihood; children can safely play or walk to and from their schools; and their parents no longer have to worry about the safety of their children. And, of course, many lives have been saved and many injuries prevented.
In spite of these significant achievements, Afghanistan remains one of the most mine-contaminated countries in the world. After Colombia, we have the second highest number of casualties from mine accidents. In 2007 alone, some 811 Afghans of different ages and both genders were killed and maimed by mines. And more than 700 square kilometers of our land is contaminated with landmines and unexploded ordnance, which has affected some 3,000 communities or 17% of our total population.
Over the past two years, violence has increased in Afghanistan. The frequent use of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDS), targeting civilians and military forces, has added to the enormous and difficult task of clearing Afghanistan of mines and other unexploded munitions.
But, at the same time, we are encouraged by many efforts underway to change this grim picture in Afghanistan. Military operations continue to focus on protection of civilians and are carried out with and in coordination with the Afghan national security forces. And the Afghan government concurrently pursues a peaceful solution to end the ongoing conflicts, through the recent formation of a High Council for Peace. These efforts coupled with continued assistance from organizations like the Marshall Legacy Institute give us hope to see a dramatic reduction in casualties caused by mines and other munitions in Afghanistan.
Once again, thank you, and my sincere congratulations to the Honorees this evening.
END.
