Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II has awarded the Order of the British Empire to Lou McGrath, the executive director of Mines Advisory Group (MAG). MAG and CPI have been partners in Southeast Asia for the past four years.
McGrath, whose mine action organization is based in Manchester, has been its leader since 1997 and has been involved in landmine and unexploded ordnance clearance since 1989. He played a key role in the development of new mine clearance techniques, which MAG has implemented in more than 35 countries since its founding in 1989.
"I am really proud of this honor," McGrath said. "I want to accept this award on behalf of everyone in MAG. Our staff carry out difficult and dangerous work, and their efforts have given more opportunities for people to live without the threats and restrictions posed by landmines."
MAG and CPI have a cooperative agreement. In Vietnam, for instance, they exchange data on the occurrence of accidents and the needs of landmine accident survivors so MAG can clearance life-threatening ordnance after accidental explosions and CPI can help accident survivors who approach MAG field workers about assistance services. In Cambodia, MAG cleared the land on which CPI built a rice mill for landmine survivors and an adjacent tract where they will be taught better farming techniques.