Egypt’s new desert battle

Authorities struggle to de-mine battlefield used during World War II.

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An estimated 16 million landmines and unexploded munitions from World War II continue to maim thousands of local herders in the northern Egyptian town of el-Alamein.

The landmines pose not only a humanitarian hazard, but remain a huge obstacle to the economic development of Egypt’s coast, which is believed to be rich in oil and gas reserves.

The Egyptian government says that de-mining the el-Alamein battlefields alone could cost $20 billon.

Al Jazeera’s Ayman Moyheldin reports.

Source: Al Jazeera