Demining efforts in conflict-affected areas The Japanese government gave Somalia a million dollar boost this month (May).
According to the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), the funding would go towards its humanitarian mine action to promote peace and safety in Somalia programme. It seeks to reduce the risk of landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW) to vulnerable people throughout the country.
The funds will be used in Somalia to provide explosive ordnance risk education (EORE) and non-technical survey (NTS) activities.
“We are grateful for Japan’s continued support in building a peaceful and safe Somalia and protecting its people from the dangers of explosive hazards.” “UNMAS is improving security for the Somali people and coordinating humanitarian mine action intervention in the country,” said Justin Smith, UNMAS’s Chief of Mine Action in Somalia.
Landmines and ERW continue to jeopardise Somali lives, causing accidents and injuries, some of which are fatal. Since 2004, humanitarian mine response partners have documented 1 179 civilian casualties as a result of landmine and ERW incidents.
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UNMAS will carry out essential project operations in accessible regions of Federal Member State Galmudug, which is a priority location for mine action due to a high degree of reported explosive ordnance contamination and accidents in comparison to other parts of Somalia.
The verification of the level of contamination will enable for an appropriate response to these dangers. Through EORE workshops, NTS will describe the complete scope of explosive ordnance contamination in Galmudug while also boosting community understanding about contamination hazards and how to deal with them.
The Somali government, which has been a signatory to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC) since 2012, has been given a five-year extension of relevant mine clearance requirements until 2027.
The extension should give Somalia enough time to reconfirm its commitment to clearing all identified polluted regions.
The humanitarian mine action to promote peace and safety in Somalia project is expected to help the Somali Federal Government build institutional and operational capacity to co-ordinate and oversee mine action activities while adhering to international treaty obligations.