Togo: Protecting civilians from the risks of Improvised Explosive Devices

As part of its support to the Togolese government to strengthen the protection of civilian populations in the north of the country against the risk posed by explosive devices, including Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs), the United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism Read More …

Switzerland submits objection to Ukraine’s suspension of the Ottawa Convention

Switzerland will object to Ukraine’s decision to suspend the Ottawa Convention, which prohibits the use, production, stockpiling and transfer of anti-personnel mines. At its meeting on 15 October, the Federal Council considered that such a suspension would be incompatible with Read More …

UNOCT: Supporting Eastern Africa in countering terrorist use of improvised explosive devices

The United Nations Office of Counter-Terrorism (UNOCT) will launch the project: “Supporting Eastern Africa in countering terrorist use of improvised explosive devices (IEDs)”, on 11 September 2025. By improving the application of legislative frameworks and building capacities of national authorities Read More …

UNIFIL statement on attack on peacekeepers clearing roadblocks

Yesterday morning, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) drones dropped four grenades close to UNIFIL peacekeepers working to clear roadblocks hindering access to a UN position close to the Blue Line. This is one of the most serious attacks on UNIFIL personnel Read More …

DR Congo: UNMAS, KOICA and CCLMA conclude major demining project

The project “Sustainable Mine Action in Support of Refugees, Internally Displaced Persons and Communities Affected by Conflicts in the Democratic Republic of Congo, funded by KOICA for $6 million USD, and implemented by the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) Read More …

UNOCT: Terror threat posed by ISIL ‘remains volatile and complex’

The threat posed by the terrorist group ISIL remains dynamic and diverse, with Africa currently experiencing the highest level of activity worldwide. While multiple ISIL leaders have perished in the past few years, “the group has managed to retain its Read More …

UNMAS in 2024: Protecting lives building peace

UNMAS delivers mandates assigned by the United Nations Security Council to peace operations and responds to requests for assistance from United Nations Resident Coordinators and national authorities in states affected by explosive ordnance. UNMAS responses are aligned to the objectives of Read More …

UNODC Supports Burkina Faso in strengthening its response to the evolving threat of Improvised Explosive Devices

Improvised explosive devices (IEDs) pose a grave security threat in the Sahel region. Threatening lives and livelihoods, the widespread use of IEDs by terrorist groups in the Sahel leads to increased loss of life, serious injuries, and psychological trauma among Read More …

Ethiopia Requests UN to Extend Landmine Clearance Deadline for Third Time

Ethiopia has requested the UN to again extend a deadline to clear landmines left strewn by wars old and new, placing people at risk on more than 125 million hectares of land. Ethiopia acceded to the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention Read More …

UN Syria Commission finds March coastal violence was widespread and systematic

GENEVA – The UN Syria Commission of Inquiry today published a report on the wave of violence that engulfed coastal and western central Syria from January, finding that acts that may amount to war crimes were committed. The violence – Read More …

Burkina Faso: WFP suspends flights to Solle after explosion

The U.N. World Food Programme said on Wednesday it had suspended flights to the northwestern Burkina Faso town of Solle after an explosion near a helicopter it chartered injured a crew member and a government official. The WFP is trying Read More …

Japan’s aid agency, U.N. sign deal to expand mine action cooperation

The government-backed Japan International Cooperation Agency and a U.N. unit in charge of landmine countermeasures have concluded an agreement to expand their cooperation in disposing of the munitions in Africa and other areas. JICA said the deal with the United Read More …

UN peacekeeping EOD international training program kicks off in China

The UN peacekeeping explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) international training program, jointly organized by the Peacekeeping Affairs Center of China’s Ministry of National Defense and the Chinese PLA Army Engineering University, officially began on Monday in Xuzhou City, east China’s Jiangsu Read More …

Syria: Emergency Minister, International Organizations discuss structure of National Mine Action Center

Minister of Emergency and Disaster Management Raed al-Saleh discussed with representatives of international organizations and UN agencies the draft work plan for the National Mine Action Center in Syria and its structure, in line with humanitarian priorities and international practices. Read More …

UN: Guterres to launch life-saving campaign strengthening mine action worldwide

The UN Secretary-General is set to launch a global campaign to boost support for disarmament and mine action. António Guterres announced the move in a statement issued on Monday, in response to plans by several UN Member States to withdraw from Read More …

UNDP: 16 high-tech underwater drones to boost humanitarian demining in Ukraine

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Ukraine has handed over 16 hi-tech uncrewed underwater systems (UUS) to the State Emergency Service of Ukraine (SESU) and conducted an 8-day training course for SESU specialists on their use. This support was Read More …

UNMAS South Sudan welcomes support from the Government of Japan

The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) recently welcomed a contribution from the Government of Japan to support the National Mine Action Authority (NMAA) of South Sudan in strengthening its capacity to coordinate and oversee the mine action sector. South Read More …

Chinese peacekeepers start demining in second UNIFIL base

UNIFIL deminers from China started work in a second UNIFIL position this week to clear the base and its perimeter of unexploded ordnances (UXOs) and other explosives from the recent hostilities. The operation is taking place at UN Position 6-50, Read More …

West Africa Capacity-Building Working Group and UNODC Hold Regional Meeting

In 2024, Nigeria experienced 197 attacks from improved explosive devices (IEDs) – an average of nearly one IED attack every two days. Troublingly, the use of IEDs in West Africa is on the rise, with terrorist groups increasingly relying on Read More …

Bosnian centre trains dogs for Ukrainian demining efforts

Mey, a Belgian shepherd, and her trainer Kenan Muftic learned how to effectively detect mines and unexploded ordnance last week, negotiating various obstacles and scenarios in a grass field in Sarajevo’s suburb of Butmir. Since its establishment in 2004, the Read More …