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As of June 2011, there were 606 suspected and confirmed minefields in South Sudan. Particularly at risk from ERW are refugees and IDPs, who may not know of the dangers nearby. |
See these pages for information on MAG's work in Sudan:
The problem
Following the signing of the Comprehensive Peace Agreement in 2005, which ended the longest civil war in Africa, the people of South Sudan voted for independence in a historic referendum in January 2011.
However, the conflict has resulted in South Sudan becoming one of the world’s poorest regions, with 51 per cent of the population living in absolute poverty. While Sudan is currently listed as 154 of 169 countries on the United Nations Development Programme’s Human Development Index, it can be expected that the new Republic of South Sudan will rated even lower on the HDI.
A central element of the human catastrophe is the explosive legacy of conflict: landmines and other Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) such as unexploded ordnance (UXO) and caches of munitions.
As of June 2011, there were 606 suspected and confirmed minefields in South Sudan, with a total area size of 250km2. Eighty-seven per cent – 530 – of these minefields are located in Greater Equatoria and Jonglei States, comprising 153km2 of land unsafe and unusable.
Particularly vulnerable to the threats posed by mines and ERW are refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs), as they usually do not possess local knowledge of potential dangers within the vicinity.
This is a huge problem in South Sudan, where the population is ‘on the move’. Two million refugees and IDPs have returned to South Sudan since 2005, while localised conflict resulting in population displacement continues to be a major problem.
During May and June 2011, more than 110,000 people were displaced from the border areas between the North and South due to escalating tensions and violence. The use of landmines and aircraft bombs – and resulting deaths and injuries – were reported by United Nations agencies during this period.
So, while Sudan ratified the Ottawa Convention in 2003, ERW accidents have increased in recent years due to population movement and resettlement, with six accidents reported in May 2011 alone.
ERW contamination also impacts on the provision of services such as health and education to conflict-affected populations, and can affect development planning and implementation for decades after a conflict has ended.
Independence Day for the new Republic of South is 9 July 2011, after which the Ottawa Convention will need to be ratified by the Republic of South Sudan, and new deadlines towards achieving a mine-free South Sudan will be established.
Given the uncertain situation regarding the disputed Abeyi region and underlying oil reserves, along with continued intra-tribal and rebel group violence, future peace is not guaranteed.
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.
How MAG is helping
MAG has been operational in South Sudan since 2004, removing the physical, psychosocial and economic threat of injury and death, and helping to alleviate economic devastation.
This is alongside developing the organisational and operational capacity of our national non-governmental organisation (NGO) partner Operation Saves Innocent Lives, which MAG was supported since 1998, resulting in a sustainable national Mine Action capacity within South Sudan after the exit of other Mine Action organisations.
In order to achieve the greatest amount of impact for our beneficiaries, MAG deploys multi-task teams with the capability to apply various methodologies, including technical survey, Battle Area Clearance, manual clearance, mechanical ground preparation and Explosive Ordnance Disposal.
Through a combination of these assets, MAG is able to reduce suspected and confirmed minefields to low residual risk level, clear unexploded ordnance spot tasks and destroy stockpiles.
An integrated and community based approach to Mine Action has been the basis of MAG’s success in South Sudan. Community Liaison teams work both independently and alongside clearance teams collecting Dangerous Area reports, and providing Mine Risk Education (MRE) to at-risk populations.
MAG works very closely with the South Sudan Repatriation and Reintegration Committee, the South Sudan Mine Action Authority, the UN Office for Mine Action, UNICEF, and UNHCR. MAG also provides complementary MRE sessions aimed at staff of development/humanitarian NGOs and UN agencies in South Sudan.
These highly popular information sharing sessions allow us to inform the wider development community about risk management in Sudan relating to ERW, and share information about specific contaminated areas in which organisations may be working in, or plan to work in. During 2010 and 2011, MAG provided such training to more than 400 UN/NGO staff.
See these pages for information on MAG's latest work in South Sudan:
See these pages for information on MAG's work in Sudan:
Beneficiaries
Landmines, and scattered and stockpiled UXO and small arms ammunition that have often been left in towns, villages and other populated areas put local populations at risk – notably children, who are drawn to the interesting shapes and shiny exterior of many dangerous items.
Cleared land can not only be used by communities, but also enables development agencies and local government to access areas to provide basic services to local populations.
Operational overview
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Juba Base, Central Equatoria: one Mine Action Team; 28 Sudanese staff and five international staff. |
Find out more
- AlertNet country profile: Sudan
- BBC country profile: Sudan
- Landmine & Cluster Munition Monitor 2010: Sudan
- OSIL website
- United Nation Sudan Information Gateway
- Small Arms Survey: Unplanned Explosions at Munitions Sites (UEMS)
Our thanks to the donors to MAG's Sudan programme: Canadian Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade; Canadian International Development Agency; Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs; ECHO; Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement, US Department of State; Spanish Agency for International Cooperation for Development (AECID); Stichting Vluchteling; UK Department for International Development (DFID) / UKaid; UNDP; UNICEF; USAID.
July 2011
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