The removal of landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) in Moxico Province is helping the construction of houses and roads, and giving safe access to water and agricultural land.
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MAG Angola's operations base is in Luena (marked here), Moxico's capital. |
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Construction of houses taking place in 4 de Fevereiro. The speed at which this land has been occupied highlights the need for land for the resettlement of returnees1. |
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"We are very happy and very grateful to MAG for clearing this area near our houses" – Alexandre Saki, Soba of 4 de Fevereiro |
Housing
Houses have already begun to be built on land cleared this year by MAG in the 4 de Fevereiro area, close to the city of Luena, where a large number of returnees1 had settled close to a minefield.
More than 300,000 square metres of land has been made safe, allowing residents to begin construction and agricultural work. The government is also now building homes in the area.
"We are very happy and very grateful – to MAG for clearing this area near our houses, and that the population will have land available for houses and for cultivation," said Mr Alexandre Saki, the community's chief (soba).
Roads
The clearance of three secondary roads in Chafina (about three hours south of Luena) has given six communities, comprising around 1,900 people, a more direct and shorter access route to Lucusse – the centre of their commune, where they can access basic services, particularly health services.
The clearance also helps give access to agricultural areas and to a rural development project in nearby Luchaji. Said the Lucusse communal administrator, Mr João Caiombo:
"Life for the population in the region will be easier from now on. Now that the roads are cleared, we at the communal administration will be able to ask the municipal administration and provincial government to repair the bridges that are damaged or broken, and to improve the conditions of the roads."
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Stats Between January and June 2009, MAG Angola cleared 536,541 square metres of land, including 191km of road, in Moxico – the most landmine and UXO-affected province in Angola. Twenty-three anti-personnel mines, eight anti-tank mines and 43 items of UXO were removed and safely destroyed. |
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How did the deminers clear the land? Three flexible, multi-skilled Mine Action Teams (MATs) carried out clearance manually – using high-tech hand-held detectors and a range of tools to cut vegetation and uncover mines. They were supported by mechanical equipment, such as a Bulldozer fitted with a mine roller, to prepare the ground and clear the brush. This greatly improves the productivity of the MATs. |
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Elsewhere, a road construction company found an anti-tank mine on the verge of the road in Musseringinge, 23 kilometres north of Luena. Further investigation of the area by MAG Angola's Rapid Response Team2 resulted in the discovery of more mines and other explosive remnants of war.
Between January and June 2009, MAG cleared a total of 191 km of road in Moxico.
Water
UNICEF requested that MAG clear a suspect area blocking access to a water tower, located close to a school and a health clinic. MAG removed two anti-tank mines and six items of UXO. As a result, 1,239 people in the area now have safe access to water.
Rapid Response Team2
From January to June this year, MAG Angola's Rapid Response Team removed 67 anti-personnel mines, 13 anti-tank mines and 794 items of UXO from areas around Luena, Cassamba and Musseringinge.
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Deminers clearing around the water tower in Musseringinge. [Photos: MAG Angola] |
Community Liaison
The Community Liaison team carried out Mine Risk Education in 180 mine-affected communities, such as Camanongue, Lumbala Kaquengue, Lucusse and Cazombo.
What next?
To further help improve the social and economic potential of communities in Moxico, MAG will continue to work in 4 de Fevereiro during the second half of 2009. In Luangrico, land will be cleared for agricultural use, while the road between Kamanongue and Pensamento will also be made cleared.
Your donation to MAG helps us to move into current and former conflict zones such as Moxico, so that communities can continue to rebuild their lives.
Notes:
1The repatriation process by UNHCR (the United Nations' Refugee Agency) since the cessation of conflict in Angola has resulted in the return of approximately 410,000 former refugees. More than 50 per cent of the total number repatriated have been resettled in Moxico Province, thus putting additional strain on the already limited available land.
2 The Rapid Response team is a mobile, highly-skilled team trained in Explosive Ordnance Disposal. It responds to reports of mines and other explosive remnants of war (from the Community Liaison team, community members and local authorities), which they remove or destroy making communities safer to live, work and play in.
Links:
- MAG Angola microsite - find out more about MAG's work in the country
- Why does MAG work in Angola?
- UNHCR website [external link]
- Click on Tags below for related articles
21 July 09
MAG's work in Angola is supported by: DFID (UK Department for International Development); Office of
Weapons Removal and Abatement, US Department of State; Royal Government of the Netherlands.
