IMPACT

• 4,107 kilometres of roads and 6.96 million square metres of land within the Abyei Area assessed as safe from explosive hazards, enabling peacekeeping operations and the delivery of humanitarian aid.

• 4,500 items of explosive remnants of war (ERW) and 26,948 rounds of small arms ammunition removed and destroyed, enabling safe return of people to previously abandoned communities and reducing the risk posed by ERW on the annual migration of nomadic herdsmen and their livestock.

• 4,801 obsolete ammunition handed over by the military contingent and subsequently destroyed.

• 73,543 small arms ammunition, 30 weapons and 480 hand grenades received from departing TCC in UNAMID were destroyed.

• 403 confiscated weapons and 22,863 rounds of small arms ammunition destroyed at the UNISFA Weapons and Ammunition Management Facility, contributing to peace and security in the Abyei Area.

• 13,553 UNISFA troops, military observers, staff officers, UNPOL, South Sudanese & Sudanese national monitors received Landmine & ERW Awareness Induction and JBVMM Integrated Ground Patrol Training.

• 249,519 men, women, boys, and girls living in the Abyei Area, including nomadic people, reached by Explosive Ordnance Risk Education, enhancing awareness on the dangers posed by ERW.

ABOUT

UNMAS in support of the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei

Since 2011, the status of the Abyei Area has remained a contentious issue between Sudan and South Sudan. Fighting between the Sudan People’s Liberation Army and the Sudan Armed Forces in the Abyei Area escalated and resulted in the total destruction of Abyei town and surrounding villages. Clashes led to the displacement of more than 100,000 people and additional contamination from landmines and explosive remnants of war (ERW). Tensions in the region continue to date.

UNMAS role in UNISFA originates from UN Security Council Resolution 1990 (2011), which established the mission and recognised the need for demining assistance. A mine incident in August 2011, which killed four UNISFA peacekeepers and injured seven others, further affirmed the criticality of mine action as an essential mission enabler in the area of operations.

Furthermore, UNMAS supports UNISFA in weapons and ammunition management (WAM), to mitigate the threat to peace and security in Abyei arising from the illicit transfer, destabilising accumulation and misuse of small arms and light weapons.

UNMAS mandate in UNISFA is clearly stated in the various Security Council resolutions on UNISFA [1990 (2011), 2365 (2017) and 2416 (2018)]. The most recent, UN S/RES 2660 (2022) extended UNISFA mandate until 15 November 2023.

ACTIVITIES

UNMAS enables peacekeeping operations

UNMAS non-technical surveys, explosive ordnance disposal, area clearance and route assessment activities enable peacekeeping operations, the delivery of humanitarian aid, the return of community members to previously abandoned areas and a safe migration of nomadic herdsmen.

Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE)

UNMAS delivers explosive ordnance risk education to UNISFA personnel, enhancing their knowledge of how to respond when they encounter items of ERW while conducting operations. Similar messages are delivered to communities within the Abyei Area.

Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism

UNMAS Patrol Support Teams deploy together with Joint Border Verification and Monitoring Mechanism Ground Patrol Teams to allow them to move freely and protect them against any explosive hazards that are encountered in the Safe Demilitarised Border Zone.

Weapons and Ammunition Management

UNMAS manages the disposal of weapons and ammunition confiscated by UNISFA troops, working closely with stakeholders such as UNPOL, TCCs and national monitors from Sudan and South Sudan.

FUNDING

Funding of US $9.84 million to cover activities from 01 July 2023 to 30 June 2024 has been received through UNISFA assessed budget.

Data as of 31 October 2023