Cambodia: Mine Authority and GICHD sign MOU on cooperation in the risk management of explosive remnants of war

The Mine Action Authority and the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Cooperation in Residual Contamination Management in Cambodia on March 5, 2024. Senior Minister Ly Thuch, First Vice President of the Mine Read More …

Explosives remain in 5.6 million hectares in Việt Nam

Around 5.6 million hectares, equivalent to 17.71 per cent of Việt Nam’s total area, are still contaminated with unexploded ordnance (UXO) as of the end of 2023. Việt Nam is among the countries with the highest rates of UXO contamination Read More …

Cambodia: CMAC defuse monster 340kg US bomb in Kampong Cham village

The Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) successfully neutralised a large US air-dropped bomb in Kampong Cham province on February 27. The 340kg bomb, identified as an M117 US general purpose bomb, was defused by CMAC operatives, in a carefully planned Read More …

South Sudan: United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) Clearance makes Ground Safer for Communities in Amadi

In Amadi, a village located a few kilometers from South Sudan’s capital, Juba, local communities used to live in fear. Unexploded ordnance—a reminder of past civil wars—littered their ancestral lands making farming impossible and posing risks to women, children, and Read More …

UK Government awards over $1 million in funding to MAG’s work in Laos

The United Kingdom’s Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) has pledged over $1.65 million in funding to the Mines Advisory Group (MAG) to support ongoing UXO survey, clearance, and explosive ordnance risk education (EORE) activities in Khammouane province. This funding Read More …

Vietnam National Mine Action Centre celebrates 10th founding anniversary

The Vietnam National Mine Action Center (VNMAC) on February 28 held a meeting with representatives of embassies of countries, international organisations, and foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to celebrate its 10th founding anniversary (March 4, 2014 – 2024). In 2010, the Read More …

Nigeria: Federal government inaugurates committee on mines clearance in North East

The federal government has inaugurated a committee to actualize the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in North East Nigeria. The committee is chaired by the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, according to a statement from the minister’s Read More …

South Sudan: UK announces $2.5m for mine clearance

The United Kingdom said it will, through its flagship Global Mine Action Programme, contribute $2.65 million to help Mines Advisory Group (MAG) clear land for resettlement and agriculture in South Sudan. Mines and Bomb/Cluster munition remnants present a key challenge Read More …

Sri Lanka extends demining body’s tenure for landmine free nation

The Sri Lankan government has decided to extend the tenure of National Mine Action Center to 2027 to achieve landmine free country, a minister said here on Saturday. Minister of Urban Development and Housing Prasanna Ranatunga told media that the Read More …

Canada announces additional support for Ukraine

Canada will provide critical financial and military support to Ukraine in 2024, including new financial support for Ukraine to meet its balance of payments and budgetary needs and stabilize its economy. This also includes the first year of a new Read More …

Cambodia: Britain allots additional $3.8 million for mine clearance

The United Kingdom has pledged a further $3.8 million in funding to support mine clearance efforts in Cambodia, as part of a broader commitment to aid eight countries across Africa and Asia. This new donation, raising the amount of funding Read More …

Lao PDR: Opening of Landmine Clearance Quality Management Training for NRA Quality Management staff

It is estimated that since the end of the Indochina war, more than 22,000 people have fallen victim to Unexploded Ordnance (UXO) in Lao PDR, almost half of whom died. An estimated 46% of casualties were children. Already in 2024, there have Read More …

Cambodia: CMAC cleared 2,602 minefields with a total area of 281,975,328 square metres in 2023

The Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) held a meeting on February 1, 2024, to review the 2023 work report and the 2024 plan directions. Heng Ratana, the Royal Government Delegate in Charge of CMAC Director General, stated that in 2023, Read More …

Cambodia: CMAC plan UXO, ERW operations in Mekong

The Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) and an inter-ministerial task force organised a public forum ahead of operations to recover unexploded ordnance (UXOs) and shipwrecks from the Mekong River in Prey Veng province. Addressing the forum, CMAC director-general Heng Ratana Read More …

Angola: Unexploded high-powered bomb destroyed in Moxico province

An unexploded bomb, model FAB-250, considered “rare and highly powerful”, was destroyed in the town of Lushivi, 103 kilometers south of Luena, eastern Moxico province, by the Mining Advisory Group (MAG). Capable of destroying an area of 250 square meters, Read More …

Cambodia: CMAC director general discusses demining cooperation with delegates from African countries

Heng Ratana, director general of the Cambodian Mine Action Center, met with delegates from 5 African countries to discuss demining cooperation. The meeting was held at the CMAC headquarters in Phnom Penh on Monday. The delegates consisted of Mike Rashid Fulla Read More …

Ukraine: 3,500 sappers currently available “not enough”

There are currently 3,500 sappers working in Ukraine, but this is an insufficient number for rapidly clearing mine-contaminated territories. Deputy Minister of Economy Ihor Bezkaravainyi, who coordinates humanitarian demining efforts, noted this in an interview with Ukrinform. “It’s 3,500 sappers, Read More …

Cambodia: China now leading mine clearance supporter

China is the foremost foreign financial supporter of the mine action sector in Cambodia, according to the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC). Their contribution places China at the top of the list, followed by Japan, the US and other countries. Read More …

Angola: Demining works for electrification project at final stage in Bengo province

The demining works for the implementation of the electrification project covering Triangle of Dembos and Nambuangongo in Angola’s northern has reached its final stage, the local governor Maria Antónia Nelumba has said. The project is expected to demine 252 kilometers Read More …

Ukraine neutralized over 6,000 mines and projectiles in December

In December 2023, the demining units of the State Special Transport Service were able to neutralize 6,171 explosive devices in Ukraine. This constitutes a significant portion of the total number of mines, shells, and other explosive devices laid since the Read More …