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 the United Nations Mine Action Strategy and the United Nations vision of a world free from the threat of mines, explosive remnants of war (ERW) and improvised explosive devices (IEDs).
A surge in conflict across the globe led to increasingly complex demands on the mine action sector. Nevertheless, UNMAS has remained agile and responsive to evolving operational, security and political contexts. The Service activated its Standing Capacity, expanded its partnerships with Member States and non-governmental organizations (NGO) and expanded its training efforts to mitigate the threat of IEDs. UNMAS removed and destroyed tens of thousands of explosive ordnance items, improved the safety of millions of people, strengthened the national capacity of partner governments and reduced the threat of explosive ordnance to civilians—including children—as well as United Nations and humanitarian personnel.
Read more…
Source: United Nations Mine Action Service
Sign up for the Counter-IED Report Newsletters
The latest news and insights delivered right to your inbox
Related:
- The deadly legacy of landmines
April 2, 2023
More than two decades since the adoption of the landmark Mine Ban Treaty and the creation of the UN Mine Action Service, millions of landmines have been destroyed, but land in nearly 70 countries globally is still contaminated and innocent people continue to be killed or maimed. Marked annually on 4 April the International Day for ...
- Secretary-General, in Message for Mine Action Day, Urges Member States to Ratify, Fully Implement Conventions Banning Explosive Ordnance, Cluster Munitions
March 28, 2023
Following is UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ message for the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, observed on 4 April: For the millions living amidst the chaos of armed conflicts — especially women and children — every step can put them in danger’s path. Even after the fighting stops, conflicts often leave behind a ...
- Sri Lanka: UN pre-deployment team scheduled to inspect troops for deployment in Mali
March 24, 2023
A high-level UN Assessment and Advisory Team are scheduled to inspect self-sustenance equipment, combat vehicles and accessories, de-mining devices, Explosive Ordnance Devices, logistic and medical equipment, military hardware and witness mock demonstrations during their visits (March 20-25) to the 1 Sri Lanka Army Ordnance Corps, Engineer Division, School of Military Engineering at Embilipitiya, Sri Lanka ...
- UN report: Uranium particles enriched to 83.7% found in Iran
March 1, 2023
Inspectors from the United Nations nuclear watchdog found uranium particles enriched up to 83.7% in Iran’s underground Fordo nuclear site, a report seen Tuesday by The Associated Press said. The confidential quarterly report by the Vienna-based International Atomic Energy Agency distributed to member states likely will raise tensions further between Iran and the West over its ...
- Afghanistan’s demining program needs $18.3 million – OCHA
February 28, 2023
According to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA), Afghanistan has one of the highest levels of explosive ordnance contamination globally. The statement tweeted on Monday saying that in 2023, some $18.3 million is needed for survey, explosive ordnance disposal, and landmine clearance. Read more… Source: Khaama Press
- Cambodia deploys 98 deminers to Central African Republic
February 23, 2023
Cambodian deminers departed Phnom Penh on Tuesday to the Central African Republic to as part of the UN peacekeeping force. They will be part of the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilisation Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA). Read more… Source: Khmer Times
- Mali: Three UN peacekeepers die in a roadside bomb explosion
February 21, 2023
Three United Nations peacekeepers were killed and five others seriously injured on Tuesday when their convoy struck a roadside bomb in central Mali, the UN mission said. “A MINUSMA Force convoy hit an Improvised Explosive Device IED today,” it said in a tweet that gave a preliminary toll. Read more… Source: Punch News
- Japan contributes to UN Mine Action Service for humanitarian mine action and peacebuilding in Sudan
February 7, 2023
The Government of Japan has contributed USD 980,000 to the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), a component of the United Nations Integrated Transition Assistance Mission in Sudan (UNITAMS), to advance Sudan’s peacebuilding efforts through humanitarian mine action. Aiming to mitigate the threat of explosive ordnance posed to Sudanese population as well as humanitarian and development ...
- Chinese peacekeepers safeguard peace with practical actions
February 3, 2023
Leaving Beirut, capital of Lebanon, all along the coastal highway southward and passing through bustling towns, you can see more checkpoints and armored vehicles of the United Nations peacekeeping force on road. In the south Lebanese city of Tyre about an hour and a half drive from here lies the barrack of the Chinese peacekeeping ...
- UN reports tense situation in eastern DR Congo after rebel attacks, deadly blast
January 28, 2023
Attacks by the M23 Movement rebels and an explosion wounding 18 civilians leave a tense situation in the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), a UN spokesman said on Thursday. One clash was in the southeast of Kitchanga, in North Kivu province, while other fights, including heavy weapons, occurred in Kishishe, about 25 km northwest ...
- At Least 32 Peacekeeping, Associated Personnel Killed in Malicious Attacks during 2022, United Nations Staff Union President Says
January 20, 2023
At least 32 United Nations peacekeeping personnel — 28 military and four police, including one woman police officer — were killed in deliberate attacks in 2022, the United Nations Staff Union said today. For the ninth year in a row, the United Nations Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) was the deadliest for peacekeepers with ...
- Central African Republic: Weapons and Ammunition Management Country Insight
January 16, 2023
UNIDIR defines WAM in a comprehensive manner covering the oversight, accountability and governance of conventional arms and ammunition throughout their management cycle, including the establishment of relevant national frameworks, processes and practices for the safe and secure production and acquisition of materiel, stockpiling, transfers, end use control, tracing and disposal. This holistic approach is essential ...
- UNDOC: Opium cultivation in Afghanistan
October 31, 2022
Since the takeover of Afghanistan by the Taliban in August 2021, opium cultivation increased by 32%, or 56,000 hectares, compared to the previous year. This represents the third largest area under cultivation since the beginning of systematic monitoring. The area under opium poppy cultivation in the 2022 cropping season was estimated at 233,000 hectares. Opium ...
- Russia submits to UN detailed info on Ukraine’s use of Lepestok mines
August 7, 2022
Russia on Monday submitted to UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and to the UN Security Council president the details on the use by Ukraine of Lepestok anti-personnel mines against civilian targets in Donbass, said Russian First Deputy Permanent Representative to the UN Dmitry Polyansky. “On August 1, we sent a letter to the UN Secretary-General and to ...
- 2021 Year in Review: UN support for countries in conflict
December 28, 2021
Long-running conflicts continued in Syria and Yemen this year, whilst fresh unrest caused serious instability in Myanmar, Afghanistan, Ethiopia and Sudan. United Nations “Blue Helmet” peacekeepers suffered losses and injuries, particularly those serving in the peacekeeping missions in Mali and the Central African Republic (CAR). Nevertheless, the UN reaffirmed its commitment to protect those caught ...

