This achievement complements the 11 municipalities and two areas of the department that have already been declared free.
Soldiers of the Humanitarian Demining Engineer Battalion No. 6 completed the work in a new area of the municipality of Palmira, department of Valle de Cauca, which suspected the presence of explosive devices.
The mine clearance specialists carried out 24 non-technical studies, in which seven events were investigated, four were canceled and three excluded, following the protocols established to work for safe and verified operations.
On this occasion, Zone 1 was declared free of suspicion, consisting of the hamlets Tienda Nueva, Guanabanal, Tablones, La Acequia, La Torre, Matapalo, Obando, Juanchito, La Dolores, Bolo San Isidro, Bolo Alizal, Palmaseca, La Herradura, Coronado, Bolo Italia, Rozo, Agua Clara, Amaime, Zamorano, Guayabal, Barrancas, Boyacá, Cauca seco and Palmira.
"Through this we demonstrate the hard and silent work of humanitarian demining, whose firm mission is to rebuild the social fabric, generate trust and lead, little b0y little, the people of Valle del Cauca — and especially the people of Palmira — to recover the necessary security to fully resume their agricultural, business, digital and technological activities," said Lieutenant Colonel Diego Alexander Cabrera Alba, commander of the Humanitarian Demining Engineer Battalion No. 6.
Another of the most significant points within the intervened area corresponds to a fraction of the La Lucha Natural Reserve, an essential ecosystem for the conservation of biodiversity in the Valle del Cauca. Its decontamination not only protects the specimens that inhabit this environment, but in the same way promotes the environmental recovery and preservation of this part of the department.
On the other hand, Ricardo Caicedo Quintero, Secretary of government, gave : "a special recognition to the Humanitarian Demining Battalion No. 6 for the demanding and valuable task it has carried out from 2019 to 2024 in Zone 1. Thanks to its commitment and specialization, more than 24 villages have been cleared, leading the free mobility and security of all the inhabitsnts of Palmira who live and transit through this territory."
In favor of self-care, the Anti-Personnel Mine Risk Education instructors have benefited about 40,000 inhabitants, including children, adolescents and adults, promoting the pedagogical route of prevention and encouraging the recognition of the risks associated with explosive devices.
Palmira, recognized for its agro-industrial importance and for hosting sugar mills, receives this declaration thanks to the work of the humanitarian demining of Colombian National Army. This will strengthen the economy, secure mobility and peace of mind for farmers and inhabitants.
Source: Press - Humanitarian Demining Brigade
