Orito, Putumayo declared free of antipersonnel mines

After nine years of continuous work, the municipality of Orito in Colombia’s Putumayo department declared a large area free of suspected antipersonnel mines. The clearance, carried out by the Army’s Battalion of Humanitarian Demining Engineers No. 5 under the command of Major John Freddy Carvajal Torres, covered 89 veredas, 58 ethnic territories and 113 historic incidents, destroying eight explosive devices.

Mayor Edinson Ramírez said the operation benefits about 841 families, roughly 25,000 residents, allowing them to travel safely, farm their land and send children to school without fear. The deminers also verified two protected environmental areas and conducted risk‑education sessions for more than 13,000 inhabitants.