» Why does MAG work in Somalia?
MAG began its current operations in Somalia in May 2008 with a project funded by the Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement, U.S. Department of State, to clear conventional weapons and stockpiles in conflict-affected areas in the Puntland region.
Work is centred in the administrative capital of the region, Garowe, where a unit of the local police force is receiving Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) training – covering munitions recognition, the safe handling of explosive ordnance, conducting safe demolitions, first aid and communications. Once the training is complete, MAG will support and advise the team as they carry out operations around Puntland.
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Work is centred in the administrative capital of the region, Garowe. |
Linked to this, Canadian non-governmental organisation GlobalMedic is providing experts to train eight medics in trauma first response care, ensuring that the police EOD teams will have a capable medic with them at all times.
Additionally, MAG provided technical support to the Puntland Mine Action Centre (PMAC) in destroying 48 stockpiled anti-personnel (AP) mines near Garowe on 24 July 2008. In accordance with the Geneva Call Deed of Commitment for Adherence to a Total Ban on Anti-Personnel Mines and for Cooperation in Mine Action, this was the first officially recorded destruction of AP mine stocks in Puntland.
According to local authorities, AP mines and other dangerous explosive items claim civilian casualties every year. On 10 July, three children were killed and six injured when a 106mm high explosive anti-tank projectile exploded as children were playing with it on a school football field. MAG and PMAC went to the accident scene immediately to ensure that no dangerous items remained following the explosion, while two medic trainers went to the hospital to assist with the victims.
Following the accident, MAG held meetings with the elders of the town, made appeals for information, gave Mine Risk Education (MRE) on the local radio and collected other items reported by the community. It is anticipated that further small arms and light weapons (SALW) and UXO clearance of the country is required to remove these threats, to prevent further accidents and to ensure safe access and use of the land.
Objectives
MAG aims to make a material contribution to peace-building initiatives and security efforts in Somalia through delivering training and conducting clearance and destruction of SALW, UXO and any other remnants of conflict, which pose a threat to communities and prevent delivery of humanitarian projects.
Partnerships and Coordination
MAG carries out activities in Somalia in close coordination with the PMAC. MAG has also established a good relationship with UNDP Somalia who provide support to MAG’s current operation in Puntland. MAG is also working in cooperation with Geneva Call.
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The first officially recorded destruction of anti-personnel mine stocks in Puntland took place in July 2008. |
Beneficiaries
The ultimate target beneficiaries are the conflict affected and displaced communities of Somalia. By removing and destroying identified stockpiles of conventional weapons (CW), this project will remove an immediate threat to life and help communities to rebuild their lives and livelihoods.
The people of Puntland will also benefit from the local and/or regional forces’ increased ability to destroy items of CW, which can cause death or injury and severely limit opportunities for agricultural and socio-economic development.
By removing CW, this programme will reduce insurgents’ and other groups’ access to munitions and IED components. This will reduce the threat to local, national and multi-national forces and agencies currently implementing security, peace-building and development initiatives.
UN project
MAG successfully bid for a contract to provide a Technical Advisor in an EOD Training and Supervisory Capacity in Somaliland, the autonomous north-western region of Somalia, in early 2007. This was a six-month contract with UNOPS that saw the MAG member of staff provide refresher training and operational management for the Somaliland Police EOD team as part of the Somalia Mine Action Recovery and Reconstruction programme.
Further training was provided in the neighbouring region of Puntland as part of this project. The contract was successfully concluded at the end of September 2007.
MAG would like to express its thanks to the current donor to its Somalia operations: Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement, Bureau of Political-Military Affairs, U.S. Department of State.
July 2008
