Kananga, 12 September 2013 – In Kananga, Western Kasaï province, the United Nations Mine Action Coordination Center, in collaboration with the Public Information Section of the United Nations Stabilization Mission in the Democratic Republic of Congo (MONUSCO), organized an awareness campaign on Thursday 12 September 2013 to sensitize young school children on the dangers surrounding unexploded devices.

The schools targeted for this awareness campaign were those located in the vicinity of the Bobozo military base, which houses the headquarters of the 4th Military Region and the Congolese Military Academy.

The Head of the UN Mine Action Coordination Center, Claude Kodjo, said his unit had gathered sufficient information showing that after military personnel conduct their training exercises in areas surrounding the base, they often leave unexploded war devices behind them, thus creating a real danger to communities living in the immediate vicinity, especially children who have a tendency to play in open public spaces. The campaign, therefore, was designed to teach children what to do when they come across such devices.

The awareness campaign reached nearly 300 children plus their teachers.

Lansana Dabo/MONUSCO