Egypt’s new desert battle
Authorities struggle to de-mine battlefield used during World War II.
Published On 1 Aug 2010
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