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Mozambique Diary
June 16 - 22, 2002
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On operations:
Team 12 is still working in Montepuez district, the task’s called Montepuez River Bridge, it is situated in northern province of Cabo Delgado. That is a useful bridge that allows access between Montepuez district to Nairoto Village and other districts. Due the mines local people can’t use the land close to the bridge for agriculture or for fetching water. Frelimo soldiers laid the mines in order to prevent sabotage from the rebels.
We have been finding ant-personnel mines in this field, for our surprise we found an 1x TDM-B ant-tank mine Russian made, we are as always working very carefully since we do have the Volvo machine (Vegetation cutter) working along with the team in this task.
The life in general
My name is Benedito Joao, I was born in 1986, I’m married and father of a child. I am member of FRELIMO Party (FRELIMO is the Party in power now) but now I don’t have much time for political issues, I’m Muslim and only go to the mosque when free from work or when I’m on leave.
I joined The HALO Trust in August 2001 as a Deminer, but before I had to go through an intensive three weeks demining course. In the first week I felt like I was going to quit the course, it was very hard to me, I was not used to all these strict rules. I’m very happy I did not quit because I have learned a lot not only for my activities but also for the rest of my life. I thank God I got this job with HALO Trust my life is changing every month I receive my salary.
I don’t have problems with my colleagues, we spend the weekends at the camp or sometimes we go to the nearest village to have some fun with the locals. The relevant event for me this weekend was the celebration of million items (mine and UXOs) HALO Trust destroyed worldwide.
Benedito Joao
(Deminer)
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