Land mines

Second Quarter 2008 Report

During the Second Quarter (Q2) NPA Mine Action Sudan maintained operations in the three states of Western and Central Equatoria and Jonglei. Although the security setting has fluctuated across the region - with specific reference to Abyei - and in the above three states, team deployments were adjusted where necessary and productivity has been maintained. A number of task handovers took place in Central Equatoria.

First Quarter 2008 Report

The first quarter to 2008 has brought renewed efforts in all recovery activities in Sudan. In the UN and Partners Work-Plan for 2008, the Mine Action sector reports that demining activities have opened up vast areas of Southern Sudan and in combination with infrastructure development have generated a significant growth in economic development and enabled the mobility of return programmes. UNHCR and partners have reached the milestone of 100,000 persons who have now made voluntary repatriation. The accident rate within Sudan has fallen from 92 in 2006 to 72 in 2007 although there is no room for complacency.

Fourth Quarter 2007 Report

At the start of the last quarter in 2007, the political situation was unstable, following the SPLM decision on 11 October to suspend its participation in the Government of National Unity (GNU). The situation subsequently stabilised when the SPLA returned to the GNU which was followed by new Ministerial Appointments. The decision to convene parliament in the South on a quarterly basis during 2008 is considered by many commentators to be a very constructive measure.

If they can find them here, they’ll find them anywhere.

Take a mine-detection dog from the desert of the Somali region, to 3000 meters above sea level at Entoto Mine Action Training Centre. Make him used to the new and very different environment, and re-test him. Then you can be sure that he will operate according to international standard procedures.

NPA Sudan starts mine clearance in Rwanda

In August NPA Mine Action Sudan was operational with the Mine Wolf mechanical demining machine at Kanombe Minefield, just outside Kigali.

Positive End-Review

–We have been waiting for the End-Review to take place for quite some time, and are naturally very pleased with the conclusions being so positive for NPA and EMAO, says Mr Per Breivik, Mine Action Program Manger for NPA in Ethiopia.

Expansion contract signed

On December 17th, NPA signed a 4 million Birr contract with the Ethiopian Mine Action Organization (EMAO) and a local engineer company named Afro-Tsion PLC with the aim of expanding the Mine Action Training Center at Entoto.

Portfolio 2007 - 2008

NPA Mine Action Portfolio document is now updated.

50 000 mines cleared in Jordan

Norwegian People’s Aid reports clearance of 50 000 mines in Wadi Araba region and the start of the technical survey on the Jordanian-Syrian Border

Sudan Mine Action: Third quarterly report

The SPLM decision on 11 October to suspend its participation in the Government of National Unity has sent a clear signal to the international community that there is an urgent need to re-engage with the implementation of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement (CPA) lest Sudan’s North-South war resume. Against this challenging setting, there is positive news to report: work is underway in Nimule, Eastern Equatoria, to establish South Sudan’s first safari park – a clear sign of development and stability within the region.

Psychosocial rehabilitation for landmine and uxo survivors

In the period from July 15 to August 12, 2007 NPA Mine Action Programme Croatia assisted Croatian NGO "Bembo" in the organisation and implementation of a project aiming at supporting the Psycho-social Rehabilitation for Landmine and UXO Survivors from South East Europe.

Second quarterly report Sudan

The NPA Mine Action programme reports of progress in food production and economic development in the region of Yei.

First quartely report Sudan

NPA has made a good start to work in 2007. In line with the move from emergency towards recovery and development, NPA has placed greater emphasis on nationalisation of the programme.

Intervention on NPAs Land Release Concept to the RMCG

Per Nergaard, Head of NPAs Mine Action Section, elaborates the organisations views on Land Release to the Resource Mobilisation Contact Group during the recent seventh Meeting of States Parties to the AP convention.

NPA staff in car accident

On November 9, 2006 a car accident occurred on the road from Sibeni to Benkovac in Croatia, involving dr. Dragomir Reljic and Dr. Ana Colovic Jakupec, from NPA mine action program's medical team. Dr. Reljic died instantly in the accident. Dr. Jakupec was seriously injured, and is now in Sibenik hospital. Her condition is considered to be critical.

Croatian company donates mine clearance machine

Croatian company DOK-ING donates a mine clearance machine to NPA's mine action programme in Croatia for a period of one year. NPA will use this machine on its mine clearance tasks in Croatia and Serbia.

Norwegian People’s Aid clears mines in Serbia

Serbian farmers will soon have access to land that has been off-limits for almost 15 years. That will happen thanks to NPA, who in cooperation with the Norwegian and Serbian governments will expand their mine clearance work. Secretary General Finn Erik Thoresen was in place for the official opening in October.

For mine clearing expert, Sri Lanka truce a godsend

KILINOCHCHI, Sri Lanka, Jan 26 (Reuters) - While a Norwegian peace envoy held talks with Tamil Tiger leaders in northern Sri Lanka, one man waited anxiously for hours for news that the government and the rebels would resume peace talks. Read more at Reuters

Victims of cluster munitions in Lebanon

Every day, civilians are killed or wounded by the 300,000 to 500,000 unexploded cluster bomblets that litter Southern Lebanon after the Israeli offensive. A visit to a local hospital unveils endless suffering. NPA is now taking on the task of clearing unexploded cluster munitions in Lebanon, a crucial job to be done before full reconstruction can take place.

Survived the war; not the peace

Cluster munitions kill civilians in Lebanon. 13 year old boy Hadi stepped on a cluster submunition in Southern Lebanon just one hour after the ceasefire went into place. - My son is gone. What will I do without my son, asks his mother Wafaa.

NPA and the Government of Jordan break mine clearance records

The Government of Jordan has made a strong committment to destroy all landmines in the country by 2009 in accordance with its signatory to the International Mine Ban Treaty. As the task is significant in scale and impact , the Government of Jordan has asked for assistance by Norwegian People’s Aid to clear all anti-personnel and anti-tank mines along the border to Israel from the Red sea to the Dead Sea within this time. Funding has kindly been made available by the Government of Norway and also by the Governments of Germany, Finland and Japan.

Expert mine-hunters

Felix, a German Shepherd, has been hunting mines now for five years. - It’s a marathon every day. The dogs have to be in extremely good physical shape, says dog trainer Håkon Ovland of Norwegian People’s Aid.

NPA Croatia and the Croatian Mine Victims Association organised skiing, music, photo and IT workshops for landmine survivors

From March 4 to March 11, 2006 the Croatian Mine Victims Association (CMVA) and NPA Mine Action Programme Croatia (NPA) organised the 1st winter workshops for landmine survivors from Croatia and Bosnia & Herzegovina.

Community Participation in Mine Action

In line with the NPA international strategy, which promotes a rights-based partnership approach, the NPA is now committed to exploring new approaches to mine action that promote greater involvement of the local mine affected populations. A starting point in this process is a review and conceptual framework paper prepared for NPA by Ruth Bottomley.

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