British actor Daniel Craig has called for international mobilization to eradicate landmines, which continue to kill or injure thousands of people and frighten millions more. For the past three years, the current James Bond has been using his fame to help the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS).
Every year, at least 8,600 people continue to fall victim to explosions caused by "vicious weapons" such as landmines, grenades, mortar shells, missiles and bombs. After two decades of steady decline in the number of victims, this "unimaginable and almost certainly underestimated" figure represents a "dramatic escalation", warned Daniel Craig on the occasion of International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action.
United Nations Global Mandate for Mine and Explosive Ordnance Disposal since 2015, Daniel Craig said that "from Cambodia to Mali and Somalia, from Iraq to Syria, from the Democratic Republic of Congo to Chad, populations desperately need protection from the risks of explosions and the deadly legacy they leave behind."
"Whether they are clearing deeply buried bombs in Gaza, cluster bombs in Afghanistan or improvised explosive devices in Iraq, (UNMAS teams) continue and will continue to carry out this incredible work." Daniel Craig, actor and UN global agent for mine and explosive ordnance disposal.
Mine action is not just about eliminating landmines in the field. It also includes measures ranging from preventing danger in a mined environment to promoting a mine-free world.
The United Nations and its partners are raising awareness and teaching millions of people how to stay safe. "And for survivors, the UN is providing medical care, psychosocial support and vocational training, so that people can get on with their lives," says Daniel Craig.
But the fight against mines and explosive devices requires the general support of the international community and all the world's citizens. "Without your help, without your voices, your resources, your political will, it's a lost cause," warned Daniel Craig. "Today, more than ever, we need your help", added the actor, calling for the "deadly scourge of war" to be eradicated, and for the goal of a world free of explosive threats to be achieved by 2025.