What problems are landmines causing for the people of Mozambique?
For many years the people of Mozambique were involved in civil war. During the war armies had set landmines in fields, near sources of water and powerlines, along roads and railway lines and near schools and clinics. Landmines are designed to explode when people or animals step on them. Even though the war is over the landmines have not yet been removed, so people continue to be killed or injured as they try to go about their daily lives. This has meant that people in some areas have not been able to return to their homes or grow food or raise cattle in their fields. The environment has been damaged leading to soil erosion and the people are frightened to go into their forests. Mozambique is one of the poorest countries in the world. The landmines have made the country even poorer. There are few medical centres and so more than half of those who are injured die before they can receive first aid. How does Australia help? Australia responded early to calls for assistance and has been a l
