MAG marked the third International Landmine Awareness Day in southern Sudan with a series of interactive Mine Risk Education (MRE) programmes across the region.
International Landmine Awareness Day in Wau |
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Jigsaw puzzles with warning signs. |
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A Mine Risk Education slideshow. |
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MAG staff show how to recognise dangerous areas. |
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A one-to-one Mine Risk Education session. |
The activities took place at Wau, Yei and Kapoeta, reinforcing the MRE work MAG carries out in these areas, with children the main target group.
Community Liaison Manager Louise Skilling prepared a ceremony at a school in Wau (where MAG works in conjunction with UNMAO, UNICEF and the South Sudan Demining Commission) that included music performance, drama plays and dancing took place.
There were speeches from the South Sudan Demining Commission and representatives from the Ministries, as well as from a mine victim and children trained by MAG last year in a peer-to-peer education project.
In between the speeches, children were divided into groups and carried out various MRE exercises: one where they competed to put together a jigsaw of the mine sign; another where the children had to decide which of the pictures was considered a safe area and which a dangerous area; and another involving a mine awareness singing contest. An MRE slideshow presentation, screened onto a large projector, underlined the messages.
In Yei, a minute’s silence was held to in remembrance of the mine and UXO victims, especially those who were killed whilst working to eradicate the problem.
South Sudan Technical Operations Manager Tony Fernandes, highlighted the importance of the day and MAG’s contribution to the eradication of the problem, and surprised the audience by informing them about the SPLM/A history related to Mine Action:
“In October 2001, before Sudan as a country signed the Ottawa Treaty, the SPLM/A, lead by John Garang signed the ”Deed of Commitment”, banning anti-personnel mines; meaning that the SPLM committed as an armed Group, to not use, produce or transfer any victim activated explosive devices…”
International Landmine Awareness Day in Yei |
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The Recognition Stand. |
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The Effects Stand. |
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The Warning Signs Stand. |
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The Landmine and UXO (unexploded ordnance) Global Problem Stand. |
Tony further advocated against the use of landmines within the SPLM/A members and other armies operating in the area.
Emily Akalu, Community Liaison Manager in Yei, and Lorena Carrillo, who has the same role in Kapoeta/Juba, with their teams and the excellent support of Yei administrative staff, put together four different stands where participants were actively engaged on landmine/UXO awareness activities.
At the “Recognition Stand”, MAG’s Community Liaison Officers helped visitors to recognise the different kinds of mines and UXO found in Sudan and how to recognise suspected hazardous areas.
At the “Effects Stand” children were encouraged to participate in different games demonstrating the effects of landmines and UXO, and the difficulties faced in trying to continue with daily activities after a mine/UXO accident.
The “Warning Signs Stand” showed the different local and international warning signs, with explanations given on the significance of each.
At the “Landmine and UXO Global Problem Stand”, the audience were amazed when they realised that landmines and UXO are not only a Sudan/African problem but a global one. MAG’s Conflict Recovery video highlighted how different countries around the world are coping with the remnants of conflict and the work being carried out by MAG to reduce the injury or death caused by landmines/UXO.
In Kapoeta, MRE was given at schools in town on 1-2 April, with school drama groups preparing plays related to mine and UXO awareness.
On 4 April, a MAG Community Liaison team also presented an MRE Session at the market area, followed by a drama competition between the two school drama groups.
International Landmine Awareness Day in Kapoeta |
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The winning school drama group. |
Links:
- MAG Sudan microsite - find out more about MAG's work in the country
- Mine Risk Education - find out more about this key part of MAG's work
- Donate to MAG online - more than 90 per cent of MAG's income is spent directly on clearance programmes
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9 April 09
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