Mine Action Team (MAT) 10 would spend the day with two Community Liaison (CL) staff visiting the dangerous areas around Torit so that Ivica could put a clearance plan together.
The CL team had visited the area a number of times before, gathering information and working with communities, so they know the people and know where the problems are. CL teams have delivered Mine Risk Education (MRE) in all areas known to be contaminated, in order to encourage safe behaviour and minimise accidents while waiting for technical follow-up.
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| MAG Community Liaison Manager Åsa Massleberg discusses the problems and dangers caused by unexploded ordnance with shool teachers and the Headmaster at Magwi primary school |
Bekim, Åsa and I decided to join CL team leader David Lokuju and travel with him to Magwi, 50km southwest of Torit. The road was bad and it would take at least three hours to get there. It was important for CL to revisit this highly contaminated area and prepare the ground for the technical team as they plan to work there once they have completed all the emergency tasks in Torit.
Also, a MAG car had to go there to meet another MAG vehicle coming up from Nimule, 65km south of Magwi on the Ugandan border, to pick up CL team leader Justin Okeny.
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| MAG Community Liaison staff present a Mine and UXO Risk Education session with children from Magwi primary school |
His team are working in a UNHCR way station in Nimule, providing MRE for people returning home from Uganda. More than 200 people are returning every week as the security in the area has improved dramatically in recent months. The Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) have terminated their attacks on communities and vehicles travelling in the area: another reason to prioritise landmine and unexploded ordnance (UXO) clearance there.
The road was indeed bad. We had to hold on tightly as the vehicle constantly bounced around. The landscape changed – dense forest covered very hilly terrain. We passed a flat area that was a former military barracks. Warning tape and red painted stones marked the minefields on the edge of the narrow road – well it was more like a rocky track, actually. Few vehicles travelled this route.
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| A stockpile of munitions in a classroom at Magwi primary school. During the war, school buildings were commonly used as military bases and stores as they are often the most solid structures in communities |
We reached a village called Imuruk about an hour later and found hundreds of unexploded shells spread around the village. Furniture, such as chairs and benches, had been built out of scrap metal from shell and rocket cases. (Since my visit to Imuruk, Ivica and his team, to the delight of the community, have cleared the village.)
Magwi was beautiful. Surrounded by dense, hilly forest, the town seemed very quiet and peaceful. The town’s Executive Director was very happy to see us. He said that the people here are desperate for assistance and that they live in fear of mines and UXO every day. He instructed one of his assistants to take us to one of the worst examples: Magwi primary school.
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| Children play at Magwi primary school. close to a building containing hundreds of rockets, tank shells and mortar bombs |
The school consists of a number of brick buildings in the shade of large mango trees. One of the classrooms is full of rockets, tank shells and anti-aircraft ammunition. Part of the school next to the playground is littered with unexploded shells. Over 700 children go to school here. The Headmaster, Oryem Mark, described the situation:
"Now more children are coming here every month, as refugees return, more come here for their education. The bombs are a big problem. Most of them are in one of the buildings, but many are also scattered around the area because one of the stores exploded some time ago. Just last month, a school about 15km away from here was hit by lightning. It exploded because of all the bombs in it. We are so afraid that it could happen here."
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| People in Magwi live in fear of mines and UXO every day |
The MAG team and the teachers gathered the children under some trees in the playground and they were given an MRE presentation. “We have done this before,” said CL team leader Justin Okeny, “but it is important to remind the children that there are life-threatening objects all around here.”
We didn’t stay long in Magwi as we had a long drive back. For security reasons we should only drive in daylight hours. We met with a number of officials to explain MAG’s plans and they were all delighted that their community will be made safe soon.
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