IMPACT
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Destroyed 1,091,968 items of explosive devices and more than 5.9 million bullets, including 40,121 mines, 76,879 cluster munitions, and 974,968 other items of unexploded ordnance (UXO), to make safe: 1,672 water points, 3,289 schools, and 300 health clinics.
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Cleared 4,583 km of road, enabling UN and humanitarian partners to deliver life-saving aid, as well as supporting functioning markets and sustainable development.
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Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE) ensured that 5,777,258 people, including internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, and host communities, can recognize and report explosive hazards.
ABOUT
Since its inception in 2004, UNMAS has cleared 49.3 km2 of minefields and 78.2 km2 of cluster strikes and battlefields as well as surveying and confirming more than 1,169 km2 of suspected areas.
The total contamination area is now estimated to be around 17.9 km2 (approximately 2,520 football pitches) with 347 remaining tasks comprised of 185 minefields, 131 cluster munition strikes, and 31 confrontation areas. UNMAS believes that all these tasks can be cleared within five years – given safe access and appropriate funding. However, the requirement for a spot UXO clearance capacity will remain for decades. UNMAS is preparing for a transfer of full responsibility for the long-term management of mine action to the National Mine Action Authority. The Revitalized Agreement on the Resolution of the Conflict in South Sudan (R-ARCSS) is holding, however, the majority of the remaining contamination is centred in the southern part of the Greater Equatoria region, which is currently the area of greatest insecurity. Much of the contamination straddles the primary return routes for the 960,000 refugees in Uganda and the 56,000 refugees in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Safe land is needed for resettlement and agriculture, and a prerequisite for safe return.
As of 25 February 2022, UNMAS coordinates 20 mine action teams. Each year the teams clear approximately 2.7 km2 of mine fields and 4.2 km2 of cluster strikes and battlefields and deliver safety messaging to more than 300,000 people.
UNMAS is an integral component of UNMISS, mandated under Security Council Resolution 2567 (2021), and supports the four core objectives: protection of civilians, creating the conditions conducive to the delivery of humanitarian assistance, supporting the implementation of the Revitalized Agreement and the peace process, and monitoring and investigating human rights.
ACTIVITIES
Survey and Clearance:
From September to December 2021, UNMAS conducted survey and clearance operations for the expansion sites of two medical facilities run by the INGO, Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), in Maruwa and Boma, Great Pibor Administrative Area (GPAA). Due to the limited medical coverage within the areas, expansion of the sites and scaling up of the capacities are in high demand. By surveying and clearing a total of 50,000 m2, UNMAS supported MSF in expanding its outpatient department, inpatient department for children under five, and its maternity ward. An additional 36 medical staff were also recruited as a result of the expansion.
Route Verification:
In October 2021, UNMAS commenced a route assessment of the Pibor-Akobo main supply route (MSR) crossing GPAA and Jonglei prior to rehabilitation. For the past nine years, the route has not been used by communities or humanitarian workers due to insecurity. Opening up the route has been a high priority for UNMISS to maintain and increase the presence of peacekeepers and humanitarian assistance along the route. Despite the security concerns, UNMAS has so far assessed 97 km and aims to complete it before the next rainy season begins.
Protection of Civilians:
A women’s vegetable market is going to be established in Pochalla, GPAA, as a priority project for UNMISS Bor, Jonglei. It is expected that 50 female farmers are directly benefiting from the market through income generating activities. Pochalla is one of the areas highly contaminated by landmines. In December 2021, UNMAS deployed a team to Pochalla to survey and conduct EORE among the community as requested by UNMISS. In total, 73 EORE sessions were provided, some of which were specially tailored and delivered to women and children. Overall, 2,012 beneficiaries (120 men, 247 women, 985 boys and 660 girls) have increased their knowledge on the threat as well as safe and unsafe practices.
Explosive Ordnance Risk Education:
South Sudan faced unprecedented and widespread flooding in 2021, with more than 830,000 people being impacted. In Upper Nile, one of the worst impacted states, many were displaced by flooding. Through surveys to the IDPs, it was discovered that most of them have no or little prior knowledge of the risk posed by landmines and explosive ordnance (EO) they may face in their temporary destinations or along the paths to their final destinations. Since September 2021, at Fire Brigade IDP camp in Malakal, Upper Nile, UNMAS provided EORE to a total of 2,532 IDPs (309 men, 718 women, 832 boys and 673 girls) to help raise awareness about the threats posed by EO.
Weapons and Ammunition Management:
UNMAS supports UNMISS through the provision of technical advice and assistance relating to a broad range of weapons and ammunition management issues in line with the Modular Small-Arms-Control Implementation Compendium (MOSAIC) and the International Ammunition Technical Guidelines (IATG). In the context of protection of civilians, this includes complementing existing mission elements and advising national authorities on matters such as the safe storage and effective security of stockpiles, appropriate disposal of unserviceable ammunition, as well as weapons marking and destruction.
FUNDING
UNMAS South Sudan receives funding from assessed contributions to the UN Peacekeeping operation through the Department of Peace Operations.
Data as of March 2022