Brussels, 06/04/2011 (Agence Europe) - During the International Day for Mine Awareness and Mine Action on 4 April, the International Road Transport Union (IRU) and the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) launched a blog that will follow the progress of the mining operation in Afghanistan, which the two organisations are overseeing. This is a public-private partnership between the IRU and UNMAS and is expected to begin on 14 April for six months. It aims to strengthen security on Afghan roads by way of defusing explosives and antipersonnel mines on the roads linking the Afghan capital, Kabul, to neighbouring countries in Central Asia. The project will therefore focus on the centre, north and north-east of the country, in addition to the six provinces covered by the “Ring Road” (the main road in the country). According to the IRU, this project will help towards the reconstruction, development and stabilisation of Afghanistan, by way of strengthening the country's trade links. The project will cover a zone of almost 15 km² and will bring direct benefits to around 7 million people in the regions affected, according to information published on the blog. Thanks to the project, around 200 Afghans from the different communities affected by the project will be given work, according to information announced on the same site. The blog can be consulted at: http: //demining-afghanistan.org (A.By./transl.fl)