The department of Norte de Santander, one of the five most affected by anti-personnel mines in the country with 983 reported victims, has marked a significant milestone in humanitarian demining.
The municipality of Toledo becomes the first in the department to have an area declared free of suspicion of anti-personnel mines, thanks to the work of Colombian National Army.
Toledo, known for its cold climate, mountainous landscapes and rural environment where waterfalls and hot waters sources stand out, is a territory of agricultural and livestock vocation. It currently has 84 villages, of which 50 make up Zone 1, recently declared free of suspicion.
According to the municipal file of Toledo, department of Norte de Santander, provided by the Comprehensive Action Group against Anti-Personnel Mines (AICMA) of the Office of the Peace Commissioner Counselor, 34 events are reported, including accidents and incidents related to anti-personnel mines, unexploded ordnance and improvised explosive devices.
This is how the Non-Technical Study teams of the Humanitarian Demining Engineers Battalion No. 3 entered the municipality in March 2023 and after a rigorous process of review, analysis and zoning of the territory, it was possible to identify that the sectors included in Zone 1 met the technical criteria to be declared free of suspicion of contamination by anti-personnel mines.
Of these, six events were open and associated with Zone 1, which were successfully investigated and closed after the review process.
"Entering the department of Norte de Santander was a challenge as mine clearance specialists, due to the security conditions, but thanks to the permanent support of the troops of the Thirtieth Brigade attached to the Second Division of Colombian National Army we are able to fulfill the mission. The accompaniment of the people of Toledo was fundamental; its inhabitants provided us with key information to rule out the suspicion of anti-personnel mines. Today, this result translates into greater security, in the promotion of agricultural plantations and in the possibility for farmers to market their products with peace of mind," said Lieutenant Colonel Luis Germán Echevarría Zapata, commander of the Humanitarian Demining Battalion No. 3
At the protocol ceremony, Carlos Prado Mogollón, mayor of the municipality, expressed his gratitude for the distribution of this area of the department of Norte de Santander, highlighting the work of the Demining Engineer Battalion No. 3.
"Today we received with great satisfaction the certification of zone number one as an area with a low risk of anti-personnel mines. There are 50 villages that are certified today, which manages to provide greater tranquility to the municipality, to the peasants, and especially to the children and young people who travel daily along the rural roads of Toledo. I deeply appreciate this great support, which is historic and represents a significant progress in the safety and well-being of people. As mayor, I express my appreciation and reiterate the importance of continuing to conduct this process, with the aim of covering more areas of the municipality and the country, which is fundamental for the development and peace of the communities."
In turn, Mayerdy Carrillo, a resident of the municipality of Toledo, department of Norte de Santander said about zone 1 "we are thanking the Humanitarian Demining Battalion for leading people to walk freely and safely through the territory again so that they can continue with the municipality, with cultivation of coffee, livestock and make the lands prosperous again."
Source: Press - Humanitarian Demining Brigade
