Mine Action Weekly, 22 - 28 July 2024
Markus Schindler
Program Manager at FSD | Expert in Mine Action Capacity Development & Localisation | Published Researcher | Editor of Mine Action Weekly
Welcome to a fresh edition of the Mine Action Weekly newsletter, your go-to source for the most important global updates from the mine action sector. Read about the latest news on EO contamination & clearance, EORE, accidents and victim assistance, advocacy efforts, stockpile destruction, mine action innovation & technology, and assistance, cooperation & funding - right here, every Monday. Dive right in and stay up-to-date!
Disclaimers:
Weekly News Roundup
The weekly news roundup showcases a low-down of the top mine action news and insights from the past seven days.
1. EO Contamination, Clearance & Land Release
???? ANAMA reveals number of landmines found in liberated territories last week
Demining activities in Azerbaijan's liberated territories from 15 to 21 July resulted in the detection and neutralisation of 67 anti-tank mines, 37 anti-personnel mines, and 181 unexploded ordnance. Also, 1,673.7 hectares of land were cleared of mines.
???? Cambodian Mine Action Centre divers recover 24,000 UXOs from riverbeds
More than 24,000 unexploded ordnance (UXOs) items of all kinds have been recovered from the Kingdom’s rivers and waterways in the past year and four months. The operations are part of a campaign to clear explosive remnants of war (ERWs) and salvage the wreckage of vessels which were sunk during past conflicts.
???? Cambodia: CMAC research identifies new minefield locations
The First Vice-President of the Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) Ly Thuch has instructed demining operators to review the report on new minefields identified by the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC).
???? Cambodia: CMAA warns of increased risk of mines after heavy rain, floods
The Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) called on the public to be vigilant during and after floods because of the risk that they could unearth landmines due to landslides or runoff.
???? Cambodia: Battambang man unearths cache of landmines
A resident unearthed around 50 unexploded PMN-type anti-personal landmines in a field in Battambang province’s O’Kaki village. The man immediately reported his find to the commune police station.
???? Iraq: The Kurdish women clearing up bombs in Iraq
Kurdish women in northern Iraq are actively involved in demining efforts, clearing landmines and unexploded ordnance. Working alongside Arab and Yazidi colleagues, these women face physical and emotional challenges but remain dedicated to making their communities safer and supporting recovery efforts in the heavily contaminated region.
???? Ukraine: Nowhere to step: Ukraine plagued at least 2 million landmines
Ukraine, plagued by at least 2 million landmines, is utilising artificial intelligence (AI) to improve mine detection. The HALO Trust , with a $4 million grant from Amazon Web Services, employs AI and drones to analyse images, significantly speeding up the demining process and enhancing safety for civilians.
???? Ukraine: Kherson region is the leading region in the country for the scale of demining efforts
Kherson region is the leading region in the country for the scale of demining efforts. It employs the largest number of sappers—over 800 people. Plans are in place to increase this number to 1,500 within a year. This was noted by Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal during a government field meeting on 25 July.
???? Ukrainian engineers develop ‘Artemida’ device to neutralise Russian “Hunting” mines
Ukrainian engineers have developed the Artemida device to neutralise Russian "hunting" mines. This innovative technology aims to enhance demining operations, ensuring safer conditions for civilians and military personnel by effectively detecting and disarming these dangerous explosives.
???? Ukraine races against time to clear Black Sea trade routes of mines
Ukraine is urgently working to clear mines from Black Sea trade routes to ensure safe passage for commercial ships. This demining effort is critical for restoring vital trade links disrupted by the conflict, which significantly impacts the country's economy and global trade.
???? Yemen: KSrelief's Masam Project Clears 989 Mines in Yemen in a Week
KSrelief 's Masam Landmine Clearance Project - Yemen , focused on mine clearance in Yemen, successfully cleared 989 mines across various regions during the third week of July 2024. This includes 5 anti-personnel mines, 46 anti-tank mines, 935 unexploded ordnances, and 3 explosive devices. This brings the total number of landmines cleared in July to 2,840, raising the total number of mines removed since the beginning of the Masam Project to 451,908. Read more here.
???? Yemen: Project Masam clears 1,390 Houthi mines in Yemen
Members of Saudi Arabia’s Masam Landmine Clearance Project - Yemen removed 1,390 explosive devices from various regions of Yemen last week. The total included five anti-personnel mines, 47 anti-tank mines, 1,337 unexploded ordnances and one explosive device, according to a recent report. The project has now cleared 4,230 mines in Yemen since the beginning of July.
???? Yemen: US cluster bombs keep killing civilians
US-supplied cluster bombs in Yemen continue to cause civilian casualties. Despite efforts to mitigate their use, these munitions pose significant risks, killing and injuring numerous people, particularly in conflict zones. The ongoing impact highlights the urgent need for stricter control and demining initiatives.
Other EO Finds from Around the Globe:
2. Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE)
???? Ukraine: Mine Clearing In Ukraine: ‘Children Bring Them Home, Thinking They are Toys, and They Explode’
Ukraine's Chernihiv Oblast faces severe landmine contamination, with The HALO Trust estimating up to two million mines. These mines, left by Russian forces, pose significant risks to civilians, particularly children. Demining efforts are critical to restoring safety and agricultural productivity in the region.
3. Accidents, Survivors, Victim Assistance
???? Afghanistan: OCHA reports 110 die in landmine explosions in Afghanistan every month
United Nations OCHA (Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs) in Afghanistan says that explosive devices kill 110 people every month across the country. A recent report states that since 1989, 45,000 people have been victims of landmines and explosive remnants in Afghanistan.
???? Afghanistan: OCHA: Children Main Victims of Unexploded Ordnance in Afghanistan
According to a report, 88 percent of the victims of explosive hazards in Afghanistan are children.
???? Afghanistan: Planted Mines and Child Casualties: Citizens Hold Taliban Responsible for Mine Placement
The Taliban have planted thousands of landmines and explosives, causing daily casualties, especially among children. The United Nations reported 300 mine-related victims in the first half of 2023. Citizens accuse the Taliban of ongoing bloodshed due to unremoved mines, which continue to pose severe dangers.
领英推荐
???? Syria: War remnants kill and injure 23 civilians including women and children across Syrian regions
Since the beginning of July, SOHR has documented, the death of five civilians, including a woman and a child, and the injury of 18, including a woman and eight children. Read more here.
Other EO Accidents from Around the Globe:
4. Advocacy, Policy, Strategy and Standards
???? France submits Article 7 report
In accordance with Article 7 of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty, each State party is under obligation to report to the Secretary-General of the United Nations on various aspects of implementation. This information has to be updated by the States parties annually, and France has submitted her report in the past week.
???? ???? Ukraine, Russia: Investigate use of anti-personnel mines left after Russian occupation as possible war crimes
The use of anti-personnel landmines, which litter territories in Ukraine formerly and currently occupied by Russian forces, continue to pose a deadly threat to civilians and must be subject to a prompt, thorough, independent and impartial investigation, Amnesty International said in a public statement.
?? Three newly published editions of IMAS are now available
The new editions were published on the IMAS website, following endorsement by the UN’s Inter-Agency Coordination Group on Mine Action.
IMAS 07.13 (Second edition) provides guidelines on how to manage the environment and climate change in mine action.
IMAS 09.44 (Third edition) standardises how to care for dogs and rats working in mine action programmes.
And IMAS 10.50 (Fourth edition) addresses the issue of storage, transportation and handling of explosives.
?? Landmines, climate change and new environmental guidance
Climate change is already affecting areas contaminated by landmines and other explosive remnants of war. Linsey Cottrell explains the key issues, and how the mine action sector should prepare and adopt the environmental guidance in the newly updated International Mine Action Standard IMAS 07.13.
5. Stockpile Destruction, PSSM and Disarmament
6. Research, Innovation, Technology and Market Trends
7. Mine Action Assistance, Funding and Cooperation
???? ???? Azerbaijan: Deputy Chair of ANAMA meets with UNDP delegation
Samir Poladov, Deputy Chair of the Board of the Azerbaijan Mine Action Agency, met with the United Nations Development Programme ( 联合国开发计划署 ) delegation. The primary purpose of the meeting was to discuss the creation of the International Centre of Excellence for Mine Action and Risk Education in Azerbaijan, increasing resources, and enhancing the exchange of knowledge and skills in this area.
???? ???? Azerbaijan, Serbia discuss possible support to Baku's demining activities
The possible support of Serbia for Azerbaijan's humanitarian mine clearance activities has been discussed during a meeting between the Deputy Chairman of the Board of the Azerbaijan Mine Action Agency (ANAMA) and Serbia's military attaché to Azerbaijan. During the meeting, the mine problem faced by Azerbaijan, the level of contamination of the territories with mines and unexploded ordnance, and the humanitarian mine clearance activities carried out by the Agency were highlighted.
???? Cambodia: Thuch thanks Halo Trust for their commitment to mine action
The Senior Minister and First Vice President of the Mine Authority Ly Thuch, received Miles Hawthorn, President of Halo Trust in Cambodia today, who paid a courtesy call to say goodbye, and introduce Tobias Wehitt, the newly elected President of Halo Trust in Cambodia.
???? ???? ???? Cambodia, Laos: China to offer mine clearance training for Cambodian, Lao military personnel
China will offer mine clearance training courses for military personnel from Cambodia and Laos from July to September. A spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense said the courses will be conducted by the Army Engineering University of the Chinese People's Liberation Army and will feature introductions to high-tech demining instruments such as minefield reconnaissance drones, explosive disposal robots, and laser demining systems.
?? ???? China, ASEAN committed to strengthening humanitarian mine action cooperation
China and the Member States of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) agreed to integrate humanitarian mine action into the sustainable development agenda of the region, advance regional and cross-border cooperation and resource mobilisation, including exploring various financial instruments for mine action, and enhance the cost-effectiveness of resources.
???? ???? ???? Iraq: The Government of Denmark Provides Additional Contribution to UNMAS in Support of the Mine Action Sector in Iraq
The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in Iraq welcomes an additional contribution of DKK 22,000,000 (approximately USD 3,173,170) from the Government of Denmark, which will contribute to support the Government of Iraq (GoI) to protect civilians from the threat of explosive ordnance (EO) and will enable humanitarian, socio-economic, and reconstruction efforts. Since 2015, the Government of Denmark has contributed over USD 38,000,000 to the UNMAS Iraq programme.
8. Other News
???? Ukraine: Swiss NGO offices in Ukraine hit by Russian strike
On Wednesday morning, the offices of FSD (Fondation suisse de déminage) were struck by a Russian missile in Kharkiv, eastern Ukraine. The building was severely damaged, but no staff from the Geneva-based NGO were injured or killed. Read FSD's press release here.
???? ???? Vietnam: Join UNDP as Mine Action Specialist (International UN Volunteer) in Vietnam
联合国开发计划署 is currently offering a UNV assignment as Mine Action Specialist with UNDP in Viet Nam . UNDP are looking for candidates with fluent English and Korean skills. Apply until 4 August 2024.
Video
"Farms, civilian homes and roads will be cleared, and the battle is still ongoing. We will not get tired or bored, and we will continue the work until the last inch of our land is cleared" - Muthar Al-Hamidi, Leader of Masam Landmine Clearance Project - Yemen 's demining Team 11, during training in strategic Marib, in central Yemen.
Upcoming Events, Courses & Trainings
There are a number of interesting events for the mine action sector in the coming months, and some of the deadlines are approaching quickly.
Always Stay in the Know – Never Miss an Update
This newsletter is subscribed to by over 2250+ dedicated readers on LinkedIn. To join this community of mine action professionals and supporters, go ahead and subscribe to the Mine Action Weekly newsletter, and find all editions right here on LinkedIn.
Please reach out to me if there are any mine action news, journal articles, events, or updates that you would like to suggest for the next edition of Mine Action Weekly. You can find (and follow / connect with) me here. See you next Monday!
Cultivating Digital Success for Businesses | Your Partner for Growth and Online Visibility
4 个月Insightful updates propelling sector progress and innovation. Markus Schindler