Addis Ababa, April.21(ENA)--More than 1,000 hectares of land has been totally cleared from landmines in Tigray State within a year-and-a-half, the Ethiopian Mine Action Office (EMAO) said.

According to the office, Zalambessa, Gerhasernai and Gemahalo areas have entirely been cleared from landmines.

The office said it has partially handed over the areas cleared including Zalambessa and Gerhasernai areas to the local administrative bodies.

During the demining operation, 712 anti-vehicle, 70 anti-personnel landmines as well as 8,372 unexploded ordnances (UXO) have been demined in line with the international humanitarian demining procedures, the office said pertinent experts have proved the areas in question safe to live in.

The event was a breakthrough for the government in its effort to make displaced people independent and productive as it would create an enabling condition for displaced compatriots to come back and lead a stable life, it was indicated.

In a similar development, the office said it would in a near future train and mobilize two additional demining teams and use sniffer dogs and modern demining machines to strengthen and speed up its operation in Tigray and Afar regions.

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