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Kiwi Battlefield Clearance Team Makes Explosive Progress

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IMAGE CAPTION: Leading Diver Tim Mckenzie wearing full Personal Protective Equipment during ordnance clearance in Southern Lebanon

New Zealand Defence Force
Te Ope Kaatua O Aotearoa

Media Release

6 March 2007

KIWI BATTLEFIELD CLEARANCE TEAM MAKES EXPLOSIVE PROGRESS

In just over a week the New Zealand Battlefield Clearance Team serving in Southern Lebanon has cleared cluster bombs from an area larger than four rugby fields.

The specialist 10-strong New Zealand Defence Force team has been working to clear unexploded ordnance 6km East of Tyre since February 23.

Senior National Officer Lieutenant Commander Steve Lenik said the area cleared by the team so far included cultivated fields and an orange orchard.

“Unexploded cluster bombs threaten Lebanese people and their livestock every day so it’s satisfying to know that every bomb we dispose of can save a life. There’s a real push from all of us to get the job done.”

The New Zealand contingent commonly deal with four different types of cluster munitions in Lebanon.

“The process used to destroy the different munitions varies depending on the make and condition but we will either disarm and remove it to a safe spot for disposal or destroy it where it lies.”

The NZDF contingent led by Lieutenant Commander Lenik includes three Navy Operational Divers and six New Zealand Army Engineers.

The engineers survey and mark the sites of unexploded ordnance while the Navy divers use their specialist ordnance disposal skills to disarm and clear the munitions.

ENDS

Currently 607 New Zealand Defence Force personnel are deployed on 19 operations, UN missions and defence exercises around the world.

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