Newsletter HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE PROGRAM JANUARY APRIL 2011 JANUARY MINE ACTION COORDINATION WITH THE ROYAL MOROCCAN ARMY (RMA) The Mine Action Coordination (MACC) Senior Technical Advisor (STA) held a series of constructive meetings (12.01.11, 18.01.11 and 26.01.11) with General Bennani and Colonel Major Boutaleb of the Royal Moroccan Army (RMA). On January 26 th, Colonel Major Boutaleb met with the STA in the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) HQ in Laayoune. During the meeting Colonel Major Boutaleb expressed the intention of the RMA to collaborate with the MACC in regards to information sharing and requested to MACC for technical support and advice for their demining operations from the MINURSO MACC. RMA S CLEARANCE ACTIVITIES The RMA reported to the MACC the clearance of 19,170,000 square meters of land. During these operations a total 08 Anti Personnel (AP) mines, 04 Anti Tank (AT) mines and 111 Unexploded Ordnances (UXOs) have been found in the Team Site (TS) Smara, Oum Dreyga and Mahbas Area of Responsibility (AOR). UNMAS FUNDED CLEARANCE ACTIVITIES LMA BAC Operators. In January 2011, UNMAS, through its implementing partner Landmine Action U.K. (LMA), conducted Battle Area Clearance (BAC) and Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) operations in the TS Tifariti and Bir Lahlou AOR. During clearance operations a total of 888,100 square meters were cleared. A total of 2,296 items of EOD items were found and 1
destroyed. These BAC operations have opened up stock grazing areas to the nomadic population as well as significantly reducing the threat of UXOs to both the nomad population and their livestock. FEBRUARY STOCKPILE DESTRUCTION IN TIFARITI. Stockpile Destruction in Tifariti (Picture by Louise Orton). On February 28 th, the Frente Popular para la Liberacion de Saguia el-hamra y de Rio de Oro (POLISARIO) destroyed 1,506 AP mines in stockpiles. In 2005, the POLISARIO signed the Deed of Commitment renouncing the use of anti-personnel mines and committing to stockpile destruction and co-operation in mine action through periodic monitoring. Since signing the agreement, the POLISARIO has undertaken four stockpile destructions. In February 2006 3,321 mines were destroyed, followed by 3,321 in February 2007 and 2,000 in May 2008. To date, a total of 10,148 mines have been destroyed. The ceremony, close to the destruction site in Tifariti, was attended by representatives from the POLISARIO, other authorities and international and local organizations and media. With permission of the STA, one (01) LMA team provided technical assistance (oversight of safety distance, EOD material, calculation of charges, preparation of pits, etc.) and manpower to the POLISARIO during the stockpile destruction in Tifariti. RMA S CLEARANCE ACTIVITIES The RMA reported to the MACC the clearance of 13,380,000 square meters of land. During these operations a total of 04 AP mines and 70 UXOs have been found in the TS Smara AOR as well as other locations outside the Mission Area. UNMAS FUNDED CLEARANCE ACTIVITIES In February 2011, UNMAS, through its implementing partner LMA conducted clearance and explosive ordnance disposal operations in the TS Tifariti and Bir Lahlou AOR BAC operations a total of 1,072, 5000 square meters were cleared. A total of 1,963 items of EOD were found and destroyed. 2
UNMAS FUNDED CLEARANCE ACTIVITIES REACH THE 10,000 CBUS DESTROYED BENCH MARK SINCE THE BEGINNING OF CLEARANCE OPERATIONS IN 2009. As of February 26th, UNMAS implementing partner LMA, announced the destruction of 10,049 Cluster Bomb Units since the commencement of clearance operations in 2009 in TS Mehaires and Tifariti AOR. UNMAS funded BAC/EOD activities have enhanced the safety of population and their livestock, from the threat of UXO, as they pass through these areas as part of their seasonal migration. In addition they have also opened up new areas of grazing to livestock that were otherwise inaccessible due to the threat of UXO contamination. Camel shepherd, Western Sahara. RMA S CLEARANCE OPERATIONS The RMA reported to the MACC the clearance of 7,270,000 square meters of land. During these operations a total of 05 AP mines, 392 AT mines and 66 UXOs have been found in TS Smara AOR and other locations outside the Mission Area. A total of 10 AP mines, 842 AT mines and 105 UXOs have been destroyed. MINE ACTION COORDINATION MEETING IN TINDOUF On February 23rd, the MACC hold a Mine Action Coordination Meeting in the premises of the MINURSO Liaison Office in Tindouf. The meeting gathered keys mine action stakeholders in Western Sahara and southern Algeria (Geneva Call, ICRC, Landmine Action U.K., MINURSO MACC, Saharawi Campaign to Ban Landmines, Saharawi Victims Association and UNHCR). During the meeting the organizations provided an overview of their activities and discussed plans for coordination. 3
Mine Action Coordination Meeting in Tindouf. MARCH UNMAS FUNDED CLEARANCE OPERATIONS In March 2011, UNMAS, through its implementing partner LMA, conducted BAC and EOD operations in TS Bir Lahlou AOR. During BAC operations a total of 863,000 square meters were cleared. A total of 6,147 Unexploded Ordnances and 678 CBUs were destroyed. MACC ATTENDS THE 14TH INTERNATIONAL MEETING OF NATIONAL DIRECTORS IN GENEVA From March 14 th 17 th, the MACC STA and Programme Officer (PO) attended the 14 th International Meeting of National Programme Directors and Advisors in Geneva, Switzerland. The objective of this meeting is to gather officials from over forty mine affected countries, representatives from the UN, international and national NGOs, commercial contractors and donors. During the meeting topics of relevance to national programmes and field operators were discussed. APRIL RMA S CLEARANCE ACTIVITIES The RMA reported to the MACC the clearance of 9,530,000 square meters of land. During these operations a total of 285 AP mines, 546 AT mines and 101 UXOs have been found in TS Smara AOR and other locations outside the Mission Area. A total of 548 AP and 36 UXOs have been destroyed. 4
UNMAS FUNDED CLEARANCE ACTIVITIES In April 2011, UNMAS, through its implementing partner LMA, conducted BAC and EOD operations in TS Bir Lahlou AOR. During BAC operations a total of 1,115,000 square meters were cleared. UNMAS WESTERN SAHARA PARTICIPATES TO THE CONFERENCE: THE PROTECTION OF CIVILIAN POPULATIONS, DISARMAMENT AND HUMANITARIAN DEVELOPMENT On April 4 th, the PO represented UNMAS Western Sahara at a conference titled The protection of civilian populations, disarmament and humanitarian development"organized by the Italian Campaign to Ban Landmines and the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Rome, Italy. INTERNATIONAL DAY FOR MINE AWARENESS AND ASSISTANCE IN MINE ACTION, APRIL 4TH, MACC ACITIVITIES On April 7 th, the MINURSO MACC organized a town hall meeting, to celebrate the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action 2011. Western Sahara MACC s poster, International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action 2011. During the meeting the Special Representative of the Secretary General (SRSG) for MINURSO, read the UN Secretary General s speech and gave a welcoming address outlining the importance of the MACC in the mission area. The STA gave a presentation focusing on the MACC achievements in the 2010/2011 demining season. The United Nations Mine Action Service movie was screened. On the same date, the MACC Operations/Quality Assurance Officer attended a hand over ceremony of lands, cleared by UNMAS implementing partner (LMA), to the local communities in the Tifariti AOR. 5
MACC ASSISTS UNHCR IN CONDUCTING A ROUTE RECONNAISSANCE MISSION TO EXPAND THE CONFIDENCE BUILDING MEASURE (CBM) PROGRAMME REUNITING SAHARAN FAMILIES The MACC STA was tasked by the MINURSO SRSG to assist UNHCR in conducting a route reconnaissance mission to expand the CBM. Under this programme Saharan refugees in Algeria are transported by air (UN flights) to Laayoune to visit families. UNHCR envisages to expand this programme; allowing for transportation by road. The mission involving representatives from MINURSO, UNHCR HQ, UNCHR CBM representatives took place from April 18 th -22 nd. Upon completion of the mission, the STA submitted a report to the SRSG Office, confirming that with the exception of one sector (Sector 4) and the berm gate location (referred to as M6) of the proposed route no immediate threat exists from Mines and other Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) along the proposed route. UNMAS EMERGENCY RESPONSE SUPPORT DURING A DEMONSTRATION IN PROXIMITY OF THE BERM UNMAS EOD Emergency Response capacity (available 24h/7) provided assistance on April 21 st during a demonstration in front of the berm (TS Bir Lahlou AOR), which is a highly mined/erw contaminated area. OPENING OF THE TENDER FOR THE CLEARANCE SEASON 2010/2011 Following the opening of the tender for the clearance season 2010/2011 the MACC organized a field visit for the contractors wishing to apply for the tender. On April 24 th, eleven bidders received a technical briefing from the STA in Laayoune and on April 25 th they conducted a site visit in Tifariti. CITY OF BARCELONA VISIT TO THE WESTERN SAHARA MACC From 26 th - 29 th April, representatives from the City of Barcelona conducted a visit to the MACC. On April 27 th, the representatives visited the MINURSO HQ and receive briefings from the Public Information Officer and the MACC STA. On April 28 th, the City of Barcelona s visitors assisted to a destruction of UXOs by the EOD team in Tifariti which is funded by the City of Barcelona s contribution to the MINURSO MACC. The City of Barcelona has provided 137,000 USD for the funding of EOD activities, east of the berm. Representatives of the City of Barcelona assist to UXO destruction by the funded EOD team. 6