HIGHLIGHTS
On Friday, 11 April 2003, the MACC held
a Programme Managers Day, which consisted of a PMs address to all MACC
staff, family luncheon at the MACC and a mega Happy Hour in the evening
attended by over 350 people. The Day was a resounding success and many
thanks to all who participated and especially to the MACC Club president
and his Committee members who undertook most of the organization and work
to make the Day a success.
UPDATE
OPERATIONS
At headquarters, the Operations Section completed its review of all Technical Safety Standard (TSS) chapters (excluding TSS for MRE).
The Section, in cooperation with other MACC Sections and the LIS, is in the process of establishing a Mine Action Museum in the MACC compound. This project is ongoing. It is intended that the Museum will be opened for the public in the next couple of weeks. The MACC will keep readers informed about the opening day of the Museum.
The EOD Team traveled to Sector East where it disposed of five UXOs and provided UXO disposal training to the Kenbatt EOD and Deminer Teams. The training was well received by the Kenbatt personnel.
The PO Demining for Demarcation traveled to Addis Ababa where he attended a meeting with the General Director of International Organizations and Economic Cooperation, Mr. Gebrehiwot Redai, (Ethiopian MOFA) to discuss various pending issues concerning demining support for demarcation.
The Slovak demining contingent conducted mine clearance operations in the areas of Gergera and Ksad Eiqa.
In Sector West, the staff is reviewing all information contained in the completed Dangerous Area Reports since new information has been collected.
UXB International's Route Clearance Team redeployed on 12 April in the Barentu and Tokombia areas as well as the area between Barentu and North of Shambiko.
Medical Coordination
The Medical Coordinator completed a number of tasks last week. These included the following: He completed the Technical Safety Standards for Medical Support for Demining Operations (Version 4); prepared guidelines for daily healthcare of LIS UNDP medics; drafted an article on the activities and responsibilities of the Medical Coordinator within the UNMEE MACC; met with the UNMEE Chief Medical Officer to discuss appropriate guidelines for malaria prophylaxis and planned a CISA (Critical Incident Staff Assistance) project for the future.
INFORMATION
The Information Section conducted business as usual last week, including basic maintenance work, troubleshooting, virus scanning and software installation.
The Section's staff also continued to assist the LIS project with the entry of data, which the LIS field teams are submitting on a regular basis.
The Section continued to receive data of GPS-tracked roads from Sector East and continues to enter the data into the GIS road database.
In total, the Section printed 57 maps for various clients, including UXB International, ICRC and UN military observers.
NOTE: Agencies and clients who would like to obtain maps will have their requests fulfilled within 24 hours. Please contact the Chief of Information (Ext.2123) for further information.
MINE INCIDENT
No mine incidents were reported last week. UNMEE personnel are reminded to report any UXO or mine related incident to the nearest MACC Sector Office, Force Unit or UNMO Team Site. Capacity exits within these elements to conduct investigations, complete IMSMA report forms and forward these reports to the UNMEE MACC.
MINE RISK EDUCATION
The two MRE Teams, which are now being supervised and managed by Care International's MRE Supervisor/Coordinator, were deployed to Sector East. They conducted MRE activities for school children and other community members in the village of Debaysima located in the sub zone of Denkalia. Approximately 150 persons of different ages and sex received MRE.
The MRE Teams also reported UXO discoveries in the area of Debaysima. The EOD Team will deal with these discoveries shortly.
The MRE Supervisor visited Sector East to coordinate and examine the activities of the two MRE Teams. Following his review of the team's activities, he convened a meeting with both teams to discuss challenges encountered and progress made thus far. Based on his review, he suggested changes for improvement. This process of review and improvement is ongoing.
The MRE Supervisor also convened a meeting with the two MRE Teams and the EOD Team to discuss means of improving coordination of activities between the teams.
NOTE: The UNMEE MACC conducts MRE Briefings every THIRD Thursday of the month for interested and newly arrived civilians in the Mission. For Military Observers, the MACC conducts briefings more regularly. For time and location, please contact Mr. Rhaman Mustafizur or David Momanyi at the MACC at Ext. 2158.
UNDP MINE ACTION CAPACITY BUILDING
Landmine Impact Survey (LIS)
LIS field teams returned to headquarters last week. On 9 April, Teams 1 and 2 deployed again into the field to the sub zobas of Massawa and Shieb in the Northern Red Sea zoba. Teams 3 and 4 will deploy again on 15 April to Debub Zoba to the following sub zobas: Tsorona, Adi Quala, Mai Mine, Areza and a part of May Aini. Teams 5 and 6 deployed again 11 April 2003. Team 5 traveled to the Northern Red Sea where it is conducting data collection activities in the sub zobas of Foro and Gelealo. Team 6 deployed to the Southern Red Sea where the team is conducting activities in the sub zobas of Araeta, Maekel Debubawi Keyih Bahri, Debub Debubawi Keyih Bahri and Assab.
Victim Assistance
The Community-Based Rehabilitation (CBR) Training in the Southern Red Sea zone, which began a month ago, was completed last week and the trainees of the sub-zones of Tio and Assab graduated on 14 April 2003. Another CBR Training was initiated in the Debub region last week. This training will also be conducted for four weeks.
The UNDP VA TA visited the Gash-Barka community to set priorities for children and adults in a participatory and democratic process. In addition, the Director General of the Social Sector visited this region to liaise with the newly elected officials in order to ensure that people with disabilities and survivors are included in all community activities/events, such as distribution of land, etc.
The European Commission paid a one-day visit to UNDP's MACBP, where it learned about the Project's individual components, including victim assistance. The Commission traveled to the field to a village in the sub-zone of Sarjeka (an area seriously affected by landmines) to learn about the linkages between demining, the LIS and victim assistance. The delegation also met with the CBR Committee in the area and with twelve landmine survivors to hear their stories.
The revised ProDoc for VA in Eritrea is currently with the Ministry of Labour and Human Welfare for review and approval.