MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency
Falkland Islanders still exposed to dangers of Argentine unexploded ordnance
Minefields, a common sight for many Islanders 29 years after the conflict The Falkland Islands Joint Services Explosive Ordnance Disposal, EOD, detachment recently moved headquarters from Lookout Camp in the capital Stanley to the British military base at Mount Pleasant.
Although four minefields were cleared of more than 1,200 mines during the 2009/10 summer Stanley as well as several settlements on the East and West Islands are still surrounded by minefields.
However, the dedicated work of EOD personnel over the years has kept the Islands population safe.
More than 1,000 Argentine anti-personnel mines, 80 anti-vehicle mines and 1,000 booby traps were cleared in 30 minefields in the immediate aftermath of the 1982 war.
All UK-emplaced mines in five anti-personnel minefields around the then RAF Stanley were lifted immediately after the cessation of hostilities.
The EOD have kept public awareness of the dangers of unexploded ordnance very much alive over the years, and regular visits to the schools left all ages in no doubt of the consequences of interfering with any items discovered on or around the battlefields, or the stupidity of entering a minefield.
Falklands’ children were even shown a gory mock-up of a severed foot still inside a boot to ensure they would follow the strict guidelines of marking the whereabouts of suspicious items so they could be safely dealt with.
The Stanley based JSEOD team has dealt with over 2.8 million items of ordnance from bullets, flares and grenades to rockets, mortar shells and 1,000lb bombs since the end of the Falklands conflict in 1982.
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Read all commentsA job opportunity for Marcos, NicoDim, Martin F, the man know as I and Jihad Jorge (whatever happened to him?). Line them up and get them to run in different directions across the Argie mine fields. That should get rid of five mines. It would also remove the weak links in the Argentine knowledge economy. Everybody wins!!!
May 14th, 2011 - 07:47 am 0That would be the best contribution to the human ace that these individuals could make.
I beat you to it... ;-)
May 14th, 2011 - 07:59 am 012 Martin_Fierro
“you cant even be bothered to help with the LAND MINES you disgustingly put into the ground”
“Disgustingly? What are you talking about?? I thought we did a GREAT job!!
Thirty-one years later and they're still active, ready for some greasy Brit to step on them and blow itself to pieces... you guys should form a line and go for a walk singing 'God save the queen'.
Clowns”
http://en.mercopress.com/2011/02/01/uk-is-world-leader-in-offshore-wind-energy-production-and-research
@2 greasy Brit
May 14th, 2011 - 08:16 am 0Its Greasy Dago ,get your own insult,typical argie always taking things that dont belong to them
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