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DATE=10/05/00

TYPE=CORRESPONDENT REPORT

TITLE=ETHIOPIA / LAND MINES (L-O)

NUMBER=2-267508

BYLINE=LISA SCHLEIN

DATELINE=GENEVA

CONTENT=

VOICED AT:

INTRO: A private humanitarian aid organization in Ethiopia says more effort and money must go into educating people about the dangers of land mines. Lisa Schlein in Geneva reports the organization says tens-of-thousands of civilians remain threatened by land mines planted during the wars between Ethiopia and Eritrea.

TEXT: Many Ethiopians have been killed and maimed by land mines. But, little has been done to inform the people of the dangers and what they must be do to protect themselves.

Tilahun Kidan is the founder and director of the Rehabilitation and Development Organization - also known as RaDO. He says his group began a mine awareness program a year ago to try to reduce the large number of casualties which were occurring, mainly among people displaced by the war.

/// KIDAN ACT ///

These people, sooner or later, will go back to their homes and their homes are mined by different types of mines, booby traps, unexploded ordinances in their places. So, to prevent deaths and injuries, we are planning to expand this program even higher.

/// END ACT ///

The mine awareness program is operating in Tigre in Northern Ethiopia. Mr. Kidan says his group wants to expand the program into the Afar region in the eastern part of the country.

He says 41-people work on the campaign. He says they go to different communities to educate the people. They reach out to everyone. He says they meet with the community elders, with women, young people, teachers and others to bring home their message.

/// KIDAN ACT 2 ///

We also go to schools and give out different materials like posters, leaflets, banners even some T-shirts. And, we organize drama and chat clubs in schools, sports clubs in schools, which are really to sensitize the people. We also try to use the media to discuss about land mines so the people can understand the dangers of landmines.

/// END ACT ///

Ethiopia has a population of about 60-million. It only has three or four rehabilitation centers to help people with disabilities. Mr. Kidan says his group has established physical rehabilitation units in 13 hospitals and hopes to expand these programs. (SIGNED)

NEB/LS/GE/RAE