What is MAG?
MAG (pronounced Mag) stands for the Mines Advisory Group and is a humanitarian organization that helps conflict-affected communities around the world.
What is MAG America?
MAG America is MAG’s U.S. partner organization. We raise awareness and mobilize support in the US for MAG’s life-saving work. MAG America is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, EIN 52-2302253.
Where is MAG America located?
MAG America is headquartered in Washington, DC.
Who supports MAG America?
MAG America is generously supported by members of the American public, the private sector, as well as the US government, including the Department of State’s Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement and Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration
Where do my donations go?
Donations from the public are used to reach communities most in need and enables MAG to respond quickly to emergency situations. These unrestricted funds also provide MAG with the ability to continue projects where previous funding sources are no longer available or have run out. Where grant funds take time to come about and remain inflexible, public funds have the potential to save lives faster, in new areas, where there is no infrastructure in place - that's why we need them most.
Are my donations tax deductible?
Yes, all donations to MAG America are tax deductible to the extent allowed by U.S. law.
Why is MAG's work important?
MAG provides solutions that help people to recover from conflict and to build their livelihoods in safety. Remnants of conflict, including landmines, UXO, small arms and light weapons, affect they way people live, work, and play, and prevent entire communities from escaping the poverty and suffering caused by conflict. They restrict people's access to education and healthcare facilities, as well as to clean, safe water and land for cultivation. They hinder links between villages, preventing refugees from returning home and restricting local trade. MAG helps conflict-affected people get their lives, their families, and their communities back to normal.
What does MAG do besides remove landmines?
MAG uses a variety of methods to remove the threat of injury, violence, and economic devastation that can remain from conflict. These methods span beyond landmine clearance and include explosive ordnance disposal (EOD), small arms and light weapons destruction, mine risk education, local employment and training, and effective coordination with national and international partners. Borne out of a commitment to address the real humanitarian needs of conflict-affected communities, MAG’s approach to landmine clearance is far more advanced than simply getting mines out of the ground. We view the removal of landmines, unexploded ordnance (UXO), and other remnants of conflict as just one part of the process in an integrated response to a country’s development needs.
Where does MAG work?
MAG is currently helping to save lives and build futures in Angola, Burundi, Cambodia, Chad, Colombia, Cyprus, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Gaza, Iraq, Laos, Lebanon, Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Somalia, Sri Lanka, Sudan, and Vietnam. MAG constantly tracks the need for its work in additional countries and remains positioned to quickly respond to urgent needs for humanitarian assistance in new locations.
Who conducts MAG’s life-saving work?
MAG has employed and trained 3,300 individuals around the world, ninety seven percent of which is made up of national staff. By training and employing people from conflict-affected countries, MAG builds a robust and sustainable work force, boosts economies in remote areas, and empowers local communities to make their land safe.
What are landmines?
Landmines are explosive devices that are laid on or below the surface of the ground, with the intention of killing or injuring victims when activated. Even after a conflict has ended, landmines can be left in the ground or in weapons stockpiles, remaining dangerous to innocent communities.
What is UXO?
UXO stands for unexploded ordnance and refers to any sort of explosive devise or munition that failed to detonate as intended. Bombs, mortars, grenades, cluster munitions, and missiles that are dropped, launched, or thrown during conflict sometimes malfunction and, rather than exploding on contact. Landmines are generally perceived as the greatest threat to conflict-affected communities, although UXO can often be an equally immediate threat.
What are Small Arms and Light Weapons?
The term “small arms and light weapons” (SA/LW) refers to a class of lethal weapons that are both easy to use and easy to transport. They cover a wide range of arms, from pistols, assault rifles, and machine-guns to grenade and rocket launchers, anti-aircraft and anti-tank guns, and shoulder-fired anti-aircraft missile launchers (also referred to as man-portable air-defense systems, or MANPADS). After the cessation of conflict, excess small arms and light weapons can be left behind in abandoned stockpiles or depots.
If you have a question that has not been answered above, please email us and we will respond as soon as possible. Thank you for your interest in MAG.