KABUL, AFGHANISTAN (BNO NEWS) – Jeremy Renner, an American actor and 2009 Oscar nominee, wrapped up his five-day visit to Afghanistan by visiting the United Nations de-mining projects in Kabul, Bamyan and Bagram, the United Nations (UN) announced on Wednesday.

Renner played the role of a bomb disposal expert in the Academy Award-winning film The Hurt Locker and was nominated for an Oscar for his acting. During his visit to Afghanistan he was able to witness real life efforts to remove landmines from the war-scarred country.

During his visit, the Hollywood actor took part in an education session with high school students. He also had the opportunity to talk with survivors of explosions and later ventured on to a minefield.

"I’m here to be educated and then educate people about an issue that can be solved with the proper levels of funding," Renner said.

As a result from the decades of armed conflicts, Afghanistan is still plagued with mines despite the efforts of the UN Mine Action Service UNMAS) and the Mine Action Coordination Centre of Afghanistan (MACCA). It is estimated that around 7,000 mines still exist in the Asian nation.

Last year 40 people were killed or injured by landmines or other explosive remnants of war. This year UN de-miners have cleared 63 minefields and three battle areas, destroying more than 11,000 anti-personnel mines, over 400 anti-tank mines and nearly 400,000 explosive remnants of war in the process.

Renner declared that during his trip he was able to see first-hand the benefits of the UN's activities, particularly in former minefields where farmers are now growing wheat, potatoes, and other crops.

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