United Nations Radio

Today, April 4th, is the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.

According to the United Nations, landmines and other explosive remnants of war continue to kill or maim thousands of people each year. The UN Children's Fund says one third of civilian landmine casualties are children. In Angola, where millions of mines were planted during the 27 year civil war that ended in 2002, tens of thousands have lost limbs as a result. Earlier this week, female landmine victims amputated at the leg took part in a beauty pageant. Dr. Adriano Goncalves, a Mine Action Consultant in Angola, explains the purpose of the contest:

"At the end of the day, the objective of the event was to boost the self-esteem of the women."

The winner of the Miss Landmine Survivor pageant, 31 year old Augusta Urica of Luanda, was awarded a custom-made artificial limb.

Reporting for UN Radio, this is Gerry Adams.

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