On 3 September 2019, a delegation from the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA), visited Kalemie town, in Tanganyika province, with the purpose of following the implementation, the progress and the impact of the project "Consolidation of peace and stability in the DRC by reducing explosive devices and armed violence".
The KOICA delegation was composed of KOICA Deputy Country Director, Mr. Lee Keonhee and Project Manager Ms. Minjee Kang, and was accompanied by UNMAS representatives and the Provincial Minister of Gender and Family, Mrs. Veronique Mbwisha Mulaye. During this visit, the team visited Kyomba Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camp and Tabac Congo, where cluster munition clearance and risk education activities on landmines, explosive remnants of war (ERW) and small arms and light weapons (SALW) are taking place. The delegation participated in a mine risk education session organized for IDPs in Kyomba and delivered by the local mine action NGO GADDE, also witnessing the destruction of a cluster munition found not far from the IDP camp.
The presence of landmines, cluster munitions and ERW poses a significant threat to the lives and livelihoods of civilian population in the DRC. To reduce the risks posed by these explosive devices to communities, from 2018 to 2019, KOICA contributed with USD 2.6 million to UNMAS in the DRC, enabling UNMAS to continue supporting the DRC Government in its efforts to protect civilians and consolidate peace and stability by reducing the dangers of explosive devices and armed violence.
Officially launched in February 2019, this KOICA-funded project supports the delivery of mine and SALW risk education activities, non-technical surveys and clearance of contaminated areas from unexploded devices, cluster munition and landmines and also the capacity building of local mine action nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and the Congolese Centre for Mine Action (CCLAM).
Thanks to this funding, UNMAS cleared 21,042 sqm of land and successfully destroyed 1 antitank mine, 1 antipersonnel mine and 48 unexploded ordnances including cluster munitions in this province.
The Deputy Country Director of KOICA expressed his satisfaction about the successful cooperation between UNMAS and KOICA in support of the safety of civilians in the DRC. Mr. Lee Keonhee further highlighted that this project aligns with the 4P, core value that KOICA pursues: People, Peace, Prosperity and Planet. In turn, the Provincial Minister of Gender and Family hailed the positive impact of this project, which not only contributes to the peace and security of the population of Tanganyika, but also enables the safe access to land, the resumption of resume farming and fishing activities and for children to safely return to school.
Contact :
Mme Dorcas MAYALA, chargée de l’information publique, UNMAS RDC,
+243825001850 ; DorcasMA[at]unops.org