US allocates $5m for conventional weapons destruction programme in Kosovo

The United States today pledged $5m to clean up remains of casserole ammunition and other explosive war remains (ERW) in Kosovo.

The programme is expected to bring Kosovo's people back at least 4,298, 442 square metres of dangerous land in four years.

This is the single biggest contribution of funding for the destruction of conventional weapons by the United States in Kosovo since the US launched its programme in Kosovo in 1996.

This contribution will address highly influential countries that are contaminated with caserole and ERW ammunition, eventually returning land contaminated by landmines to authorities to address their national capacity, the US Embassy in Pristina reports.

From 1996 to 2019, the US conventional weapons destruction programme has invested more than $9.7m in support of Kosovo's efforts to address the legacy of Caspian and ERW ammunition.

From October 2016 to June 2019, the United States has allowed Kosovo's people to return 3,254,566 square feet [3,566 sq m].

By the end of 2020, the United States will have contributed to the return of at least 4,288,561 square metres of land since October 2016.

By contrast, the United States Programme for conventional weapons in Kosovo is implemented by HALO Trust [Trustit HALO] and Norwegian Peoples Aid (NPA) with support from the Kosovo Centre for Mine Action.