Iraq’s lingering landmine menace: ongoing struggle for safety and stability

Landmines in Iraq has been a longstanding issue, originating from conflicts such as the Iran-Iraq War and the Gulf War, where both conventional and improvised landmines were extensively deployed. The aftermath of these conflicts, coupled with ongoing internal strife and Read More …

UNMAS Welcomes the Contribution from Denmark for Mine Action in Ethiopia

The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) welcomes a donation of 7 million Danish krone (DKK) (more than 1 million USD) from the Government of Denmark for life-saving humanitarian mine action activities in Ethiopia. The support will go towards the Read More …

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 …

LAO PDR: Unit 58 receives 20 vehicles and other equipment to support its UXO clearance work

The Government of Korea today handed over valuable equipment worth over USD 1million, including 20 vehicles, 10 off-road motorbikes, metal detectors, generators, brush cutters, laptops, and IT equipment for 13 newly established Humanitarian Demining teams of Lao People’s Army (Unit 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 …

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 …

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 …

From the Middle East to West Africa: responding to the humanitarian impacts of improvised anti-personnel mines

Though remarkable progress has been made towards the eradication of anti-personnel landmines (APM) since the adoption of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention (APMBC) in 1997, casualties from APM are, alarmingly, on the rise, including due to the increased use of 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 …

Staff awarded for Norwegian mine clearing in Vietnam

Three staff members of Norwegian People’s Aid in Quang Tri Province, Vietnam, were awarded individual Certificates of Merit on Friday, 26 January 2024. The Awards were given to NPA/RENEW Provincial Operations Manager, Mr. Mai Van Viet, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team 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 …

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 …

Cambodia: CMAA review mine action success, set 2024 goals

The Cambodian Mine Action and Victim Assistance Authority (CMAA) held a two-day workshop on December 27-28 to summarise the results of its work in 2023 and outline its working direction for 2024. The conference, held in Kep province, also saw Read More …

Denmark assists Iraq in clearing landmines

The Danish government has contributed an additional $3.17 million to the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in Iraq. The new contribution will help the Iraqi government protect civilians from the threat of explosive ordnance and support humanitarian, socioeconomic, and Read More …