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MAG trains and supports the Puntland police and Puntland Mine Action Centre, to ensure unexploded ordnance is safely cleared and develop a strong Explosive Ordnance Disposal capacity within the Puntland authorities. |
The problem
The presence of unsecure stockpiles of small arms and light weapons and other items of unexploded ordnance (UXO) is the result of four decades of conflict.
Landmine Monitor [external link] identified 2,354 casualties from mines and other remnants of conflict in Somalia (excluding Somaliland) between 1999 and 2008, which included 832 fatalities.
How MAG is helping
MAG started a Conventional Weapons Management and Disposal project in the Puntland State of Somalia in May 2008, working alongside the Puntland Mine Action Centre and the Puntland police. The project has three objectives:
• To clear and destroy munitions held by the Puntland police and army in poorly
stored and insecure stockpiles;
• To clear items of UXO from towns and villages;
• To train the Puntland police Explosive Ordnance Disposal team.
See these pages for detailed information on MAG's latest work in the Puntland State of Somalia.
Your donation to MAG helps us to move into current and former conflict zones to clear the remnants of conflict, enabling recovery and assisting the development of affected populations.
Beneficiaries
Large Puntland army stockpiles have been cleared in the towns of Garowe, Bosasso and Galkayo, reducing the likelihood of accidental detonation and the risk of munitions being stolen by insurgent groups. Additionally, items of UXO have been cleared from people’s homes, schools and office compounds, and Mine Risk Education has been delivered.
Find out more
- MAG Somalia in depth
- Alertnet country profile: Somalia [external site]
- BBC country profile: Somalia [external site]
- Landmine Monitor: Somalia [external site]
View MAG Somalia in a larger map |
MAG thanks the following current donor to our Puntland State of Somalia operations: Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement, US Department of State.
November 2009
