Cause and scope of the problem

Sudan has suffered from the effects of a brutal civil war which has spanned a 50 year period since independence in 1956. Some 4 million people have been displaced and some 2 million people have been killed. A Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) between the North and the South was signed on 09 January 2005.The CPA outlines a roadmap for a self-determination referendum for the South in 2011. The CPA is however fragile and has been in constant jeopardy.

The mine threat is found in a number of the regions in Sudan. The highest contamination (excluding border areas with Egypt in the North) is found in South Sudan. The state of Central Equatoria is reported as having the highest level of contamination. The UXO threat is just as significant as the mine threat. The United Nations Mine Action Programme (UNMAP) reported 72 casualties in 2007 (of which 18 were in Central Equatoria).

The initial focus of work in Sudan was the survey and clearance of roads that had become inaccessible because of the perceived or real mine threat.  The bulk of this work is now complete so the emphasis is switching towards the release of land for agriculture, return / resettlement programmes and infrastructure projects.