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Angola to host landmine pageant | Angola to host landmine pageant |
(5 days later) | |
Landmine victims are to take part in a beauty contest in Angola, where tens of thousands have been injured by mines. | Landmine victims are to take part in a beauty contest in Angola, where tens of thousands have been injured by mines. |
The pageant has been organised by Angola's de-mining commission, and aims to restore the confidence of victims and raise awareness of their plight. | The pageant has been organised by Angola's de-mining commission, and aims to restore the confidence of victims and raise awareness of their plight. |
Millions of mines were planted in Angola during a 27-year civil war that ended in 2002. | Millions of mines were planted in Angola during a 27-year civil war that ended in 2002. |
The "Miss Landmine Survivor" contest will be held on 2 April in a luxury hotel in the Angolan capital, Luanda. | The "Miss Landmine Survivor" contest will be held on 2 April in a luxury hotel in the Angolan capital, Luanda. |
Eighteen women will take part, one from every province in the country. | Eighteen women will take part, one from every province in the country. |
All of the contestants have been maimed by landmines. | All of the contestants have been maimed by landmines. |
'Ambassadors' | 'Ambassadors' |
The co-ordinator of Angola's de-mining commission, Madalena Neto, says the aim of the competition is to restore self-esteem in women injured in mine explosions, and to show that there is beauty in all people. | The co-ordinator of Angola's de-mining commission, Madalena Neto, says the aim of the competition is to restore self-esteem in women injured in mine explosions, and to show that there is beauty in all people. |
Angola is still littered with millions of mines | Angola is still littered with millions of mines |
She says she wants the contestants to become ambassadors for victims of landmines. | She says she wants the contestants to become ambassadors for victims of landmines. |
Tens of thousands of Angolans have lost limbs or suffered other injuries in mine explosions. | Tens of thousands of Angolans have lost limbs or suffered other injuries in mine explosions. |
And they continue to do so, even though the war ended six years ago. | And they continue to do so, even though the war ended six years ago. |
It is rare to visit an Angolan town or village without seeing people struggling to cook, care for children or otherwise get on with their lives whilst struggling with a stick or, if they are lucky, a pair of crutches or an artificial limb. | It is rare to visit an Angolan town or village without seeing people struggling to cook, care for children or otherwise get on with their lives whilst struggling with a stick or, if they are lucky, a pair of crutches or an artificial limb. |
The UN says that, despite an extensive de-mining programme, millions of landmines remain littered across Angola - and this means great stretches of the country are still out of bounds, too dangerous to farm or to travel through. | The UN says that, despite an extensive de-mining programme, millions of landmines remain littered across Angola - and this means great stretches of the country are still out of bounds, too dangerous to farm or to travel through. |
Perhaps the "Miss Landmine Survivor" contest will remind the rich and powerful in central Luanda that there is still a lot of work to be done, both in terms of ridding the country of landmines and of improving the lives of their victims. | Perhaps the "Miss Landmine Survivor" contest will remind the rich and powerful in central Luanda that there is still a lot of work to be done, both in terms of ridding the country of landmines and of improving the lives of their victims. |
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