A/RES/56/219 Recognizing the important role that the international community, in particular States involved in the deployment of mines, can play in assisting mine clearance in mine-affected countries by providing necessary maps and information and appropriate technical and material assistance to remove or otherwise render ineffective existing minefields, mines and booby traps, Concerned about the limited availability of safe and cost-effective minedetection and mine-clearance equipment, as well as the need for effective global coordination in research and development to improve the relevant technology, and conscious of the need to promote further and more rapid progress in this field and to foster international technical cooperation to this end, Concerned also about the limited availability of the technical, material and financial resources needed to meet the cost associated with mine-clearance activities in mine-affected countries, Recognizing that, in addition to the primary role of States, the United Nations has an important role to play in the field of assistance in mine action, Reaffirming the need to reinforce international cooperation in the area of mine action and to devote the necessary resources to that end, Concerned about the critical financial situation of the Mine Action Service of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations of the Secretariat, Welcoming the mine-action coordination centres already established under the auspices of the United Nations, as well as the creation of international trust funds for mine clearance and other mine-action activities, Noting with satisfaction the inclusion in the mandates of several peacekeeping operations of provisions relating to mine-action work carried out under the direction of the Department of Peacekeeping Operations, in the context of such operations, Commending the action already taken by the United Nations system, donor and recipient Governments, the International Committee of the Red Cross and nongovernmental organizations to coordinate their efforts and seek solutions to the problems related to the presence of mines and other unexploded ordnance, as well as their assistance to victims of mines, Welcoming the role of the Secretary-General in increasing public awareness of the problem of landmines, 1. Takes note with appreciation of the report of the Secretary-General on assistance in mine action; 13 2. Calls, in particular, for the continuation of the efforts of the United Nations, with the assistance of States and institutions as appropriate, to foster the establishment of mine-action capacities in countries where mines constitute a serious threat to the safety, health and lives of the local population or an impediment to social and economic development efforts at the national and local levels, emphasizes the importance of developing national mine-action capacities, and urges all Member States, in particular those that have the capacity to do so, to assist mineaffected countries in the establishment and development of national capacities in mine clearance, mine awareness and victim assistance; _______________ 13 A/56/448 and Add.1 and 2. 3