UNMAS/TDI 2014 Clearance team with a large loop of detector Supporting UNISFA’s protection civilians in the Abyei Area — identifying possible ERW threats through Non-Technical Survey ©2014, UNMAS/TDI United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) July 2014 Issue: THE 2013/2014 YEAR IN REVIEW The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), as an integral section within UNISFA, supported the implementation of UNISFA’s mandate in Abyei and the deployment of the Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (JBVMM) along the international border. UNMAS’ operations reduced the threat of landmines and Explosive Remnants of War that enabled freedom of movement for UNISFA, the JBVMM, civilians, and providers of humanitarian aid within the UNISFA area of responsibility (AOR) as well as contributed to the protection of civilians within the UNISFA AOR. Significant achievements the 2013-2014 period are the following: UNMAS ensured that routes used by UNISFA were safe from explosive hazards thereby facilitating safe voluntary returns, a peaceful migration, and enabling the delivery of humanitarian aid. During the period, UNMAS verified 350km of routes and cleared 389km of priority mission routes, including the entirety of the route between JBVMM Sector 1 HQ in Gok Machar and UNISFA headquarters in Abyei, ensuring safety and freedom of movement along a central axis. Highlights of 2013/2014 350km of routes verified and 389km of routes ©2014, UNMAS/MECHEM Route verification team cleared 97 villages surveyed for explosive hazards 72 ERW items destroyed 1,357 sqm of land cleared of explosive hazards. 12 UNISFA camps/team sites surveyed for explosive hazards UNMAS continued the survey, clearance and disposal of explosive hazards throughout the Abyei area to improve safety of UN personnel, humanitarian actors, and the local communities. Ninety-seven villages within the Abyei Administrative Area were surveyed to identify potential explosive hazards; 1,357 sqm of land was cleared of explosive hazards; and 72 items of Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) were safely removed/destroyed. In response to UNISFA’s request following the discovery of a 60mm mortar inside the UNISFA HQ Camp in Abyei, UNMAS conducted battle area clearance (BAC) together with elements of the Ethiopian Demining Platoon (EDMP) inside the perimeters UNISFA camps/team sites in Abyei, Dokura, Tajelei, Banton, Highway Camp, Athony, Agok, Diffra, Farouk, Todach, Gok Machar, and Kadugli. In cooperation with the EDMP, UNMAS delivered landmine and ERW awareness messages for 638 peacekeepers and 87 mission staff, UN Military Observers, and Sudan and South Sudan JBVMM national monitors as part of the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action activities in April 2014. * IF YOU SEE AN ITEM OF CONCERN, DO NOT TOUCH IT. CONTACT UNMAS IMMEDIATELY. www.unmas.org https://twitter.com/UNMAS www.facebook.com/UnitedNationsMineActionService Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism (JBVMM) monitoring teams are comprised of five elements: (1 & 2) National Monitors from Sudan and South Sudan; (3) UNISFA Military Observers; (4) Force Protection; and (5) UNMAS. UNMAS will supply Patrol Support Teams or PSTs for the JBVMM ground patrols, operational. PSTs consist of CASSPIR mineprotected vehicles and trained crews with mine/ERW clearance capability. The JBVMM teams will operate within the Safe Demilitarized Border Zone from the sector headquarters in Kadugli (operational) and Buram (planned) in Sudan, and sector 1 headquarters in Gok Machar (operational) and Malakal (planned) in South Sudan. ©2014, UNMAS UNMAS currently has four staff members co-located with and integrated with the JBVMM operations/planning office of the JBVMM HQ in Kadugli and one staff member to the JBVMM Sector HQ in Gok Machar. Significant outputs in 2013/2014 include the following: UNMAS was unable to deploy Patrol Support Teams as JBVMM operations were suspended until mid-June 2014. However, UNMAS maintained the operational availability of the PSTs in line with the JBVMM Initial Operating Capacity and deployed them to Kadugli, Gok Machar, and Abyei where they served as UNISFA’s emergency EOD capacity. UNMAS continued activities to integrate its work into JBVMM operations. As requested by the JBVMM, UNMAS finalized the draft for the integrated ground patrol skills training for JBVMM UN Military Observers, Sudan and South Sudan JBVMM national monitors, Force Protection Unit, and UNMAS implementing partners - an essential step towards integrated JBVMM patrols along the SBDZ. UNMAS delivered various training modules for JBVMM national monitors from Sudan and South Sudan, UN Military Observers, and UNISFA personnel, including the UNDSS Safe and Secure Approaches in Field Environments course and UNMAS courses on mine/ERW awareness and safety, GPS training, and Basic Life Support, among others. UNMAS had weapons shears ready to be deployed to the program when required. UNMAS also had an expert deployed in Abyei to provide technical expertise as requested. ©2014, UNMAS ©2014, UNMAS From top to bottom: a CASSPIR mine-protected vehicle; basic life support training for JBVMM personnel; SSAFE lecture for JBVMM personnel * IF YOU SEE AN ITEM OF CONCERN, DO NOT TOUCH IT. CONTACT UNMAS IMMEDIATELY. www.unmas.org https://twitter.com/UNMAS www.facebook.com/UnitedNationsMineActionService Field Story AN UNEXPECTED SURPRISE BothUNISFA pictures UNMAS 2014 2014 Gunter Anderka of MECHEM and the 60mm mortar MECHEM Camp, Abyei., a few kilometres away from UNISFA HQ camp, at the start of the rainy season. Gunter Anderka is a 21-year old machine operator from Bloemfontein, South Africa working for the UNMASUNISFA Contractor MECHEM. He narrates the following story: “I was driving down from the UNISFA camp when an Ethiopian soldier stopped me at the gate of our camp. I could see that he was holding something that he gestured for me to take. I was surprised when it turned out to be a mortar! I am not an Explosive Ordnance Disposal person but I do remember the part of my training on what to do when a piece of unexploded ordnance is found.” Guntar further narrates, “I asked him to wait and I hurried into the compound to get a box, filled it with sand, and brought it back to the camp’s gate where I had left the soldier standing holding the mortar. I then gestured to him to place it slowly into the box which I then moved to a safe location. There was a significant language barrier, as I did not speak Amharic and he did not speak English nor Afrikaans. I did get his name though, Getahun Ahi Desalegen, but that was all the information I got from him before he left.” MECHEM had stood down its operations for the rainy season and had no EOD capacity. He contacted his management what to do with it and was instructed to contact UNMAS, “UNMAS told me to hand it over to TDI, another UNMAS-UNISFA contractor, in the camp next door as they were contracted to have an emergency EOD capacity over the rainy season. Having dealt with the unexpected gift, I am happy that this one less UXO threatening the local community and that I have been able to help make the area safe.” Mark Connelly, the UNMAS-UNISFA Program Manager said, “I thank the solider for bringing the item to our attention for proper disposal. I do however realize that we need to reinforce our message of ‘if you see an item of concern, do not touch it, contact UNMAS immediately’ as the soldier and those around him could have been injured had it exploded when it was being handled. Unexploded ordnance may look old and harmless, but you never know. When you find unexploded ordnance, please report it to us with the location and the description of the item. We will investigate and remove or destroy it. We encourage everybody to keep these messages in mind to avoid any untoward incidents. ” TDI identified the UXO as a 60mm mortar and has taken steps to ensure that it is properly destroyed. Captured on camera— a JBVMM monitor wearing an UNMAS t-shirt! Thank you! * IF YOU SEE AN ITEM OF CONCERN, DO NOT TOUCH IT. CONTACT UNMAS IMMEDIATELY. www.unmas.org https://twitter.com/UNMAS www.facebook.com/UnitedNationsMineActionService United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA) Explosive Remnants of War and Landmine Awareness Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) and landmines are extremely dangerous! Do not KICK, MOVE or TOUCH anything you do not recognize. DO NOT collect “souvenirs”: ERW and landmines are dangerous. Report any ERW and landmines you find to UNMAS. Provide the following information: Location Description of the item Time you found the item Any/all actions you or other individuals took IF YOU SEE AN ITEM OF CONCERN, DO NOT TOUCH IT. CONTACT UNMAS IMMEDIATELY. In Abyei: Mr. André Otto, mobile: +249 962 970 253, DECT: 176 3365 In Kadugli: Mr. Indra Bhat, mobile: +249 961 752 067 In Gok Machar: Mr. Julian Harvey, mobile: +211 928 113 634 UNISFA Operations Section Duty Officer: DECT: 176 3961, 176 3833, and 176 3834 To learn more about landmine and ERW safety, download the APP to your Smartphone. You will receive an UNMAS ERW and Landmine Training Certificate once you successfully complete the course. Android link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.eigo.unmas Apple app link: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/unmas-landmine-erw-safety/id720063438?ls=1&mt=8 www.unmas.org https://twitter.com/UNMAS www.facebook.com/UnitedNationsMineActionService
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