In a constant work to increase the security of the inhabitants in the department of Meta, soldiers of the Humanitarian Demining Engineer Battalion No. 4 have destroyed 20 explosive devices in the municipalities of Mesetas and Mapiripán during the last six months.
Lieutenant Colonel Félix Perdomo, commander of the 4th Demining Battalion, highlighted: "During the humanitarian demining work, the soldiers found explosive devices hidden in banana plantations, water sources and livestock grazing areas, which posed a constant threat to the inhabitants of the region. In previous years, people could not access these areas due to the imminent risk involved in the activity of these devices."
This danger not only put people's lives at risk, but in the same way animals, forcing communities to live with the threat of fatal accidents daily. However, thanks to the work of the Humanitarian Demining Engineer Battalion No. 4, more than 10,000 people now enjoy greater security, which leads them to return to their territories and reactivate their productive activities.
The semester report reflects significant progress in the process of humanitarian demining in different regions of the country. More than 29,000 square meters of land have been cleared in Meta department, which leads to recover areas of high productive value that were previously considered high-risk due to anti-personnel mines.
In Barrancominas, department of Guainía, the demining work was successfully completed, and it is expected to declare the territory free of suspected mines.
On the other hand, in the department of Casanare, operations continue in the municipality of Tauramena, where members of the Military Forces have begun a detailed analysis to identify villages with the possible presence of explosive devices. This will lead to plan the necessary operations to eliminate any threat in the area and to work to increase the security of the inhabitants.
As the humanitarian demining process progresses, Colombian National Army's commitment to the protection of communities and the recovery of the territory is constant in its firmness.
Source: Press – Humanitarian Demining Brigade
