Egypt has suffred a loss estimated at LB300 billion (about $71b) due to landmines planted by the warring parties in its western desert during WWII, according to an official statement.
The Ministry of Planning and International Cooperation said that the loss was incurred as a result of abandoning the arable areas of the Alamain desert . The ministry said the loss equals threefold the development aid received by Egypt over the past 50 years.
The Ministry's first undersecretary Abd Allah Marzban at a meeting by defense, national security and Arab affairs committee at Shura Council last week that the war foes had planted 22 million mines in western desert during the Second World War, in about 287000 acres that could have been a population attractive area.
He pointed out that the number of Egyptian victims of land mines is estimated at about 1000 killed and 7000 wounded.
Other reports put the total number of victims at 15,000.
At a two-day conference in July, Prime Minister Atef Ebeid said that Egypt would deal with this 50-year-old problem.
Removing a mine is estimated to cost $500 in the average.
Studies also indicate that an "oil lake" exists under the Alamain – Albawaba.com
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