HIGHLIGHT
The UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) Evaluation Team (two independent consultants) completed its evaluation exercise of the MACC Programme in the Mission area. As part of their evaluation, the Team will continue to meet with some key mine action donor governments in Europe. A final evaluation report will be expected in the course of the next six to eight weeks.
The Programme Manager is preparing to go on sick leave for three months from mid-November 2004 through mid-February 2005. To cover for this period, UNMAS has sent in a MACC Officer-in-Charge (OIC), Mr. Greg Lindstrom, who arrived in the Mission area on Friday, 12 November 2004. During his first week, Mr Lindstrom will commence with an induction and handover programme, which will include meetings with UNMEE's Senior Management Team as well as various mine action representatives in the Mission area and senior UNMEE staff.
Updates
OPERATIONS
All mine detection dogs of MECHEM's recently arrived Integrated Demining Capacity successfully completed their accreditation exercises. At the same time, training of the mine detection dogs and dog handlers on panel search methods continued. All field staff of this particular demining capacity completed a refresher training in the use of GPS and radio procedures. MECHEM is still waiting for the arrival of the mechanical assets which will complete the set of assets for this Integrated Demining Capacity. The mechanical assets are expected to arrive this month.
MECHEM's route verification team moved their field operations site from the western parts of Sector Center to the Assab area in Sector East. The Team will continue route verification operations in Sector East next week.
The MACC Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Field Team deployed to the Tserona area in Sector Center to investigate a number of reported UXO discoveries. The Team also prepared for next week's field deployment to Sector West where it will dispose of several UXO.
A new Mine Risk Education (MRE) Coordinator arrived at the Force Mine Action Center (FMAC), Lt Col Francis Killu. He is currently involved in an induction programme at the MACC. Once completed, he will assume his new responsibility of coordinating MRE activities of the MACC/FMAC.
INFORMATION
In support of logistical operations of the UNMEE MACC, the Information Section began outlining a 'MACC transport' database concept. The idea is to develop a database, which would provide a more effective and efficient monitoring and oversight system of all issues related to the maintenance of the MACC vehicle fleet, including vehicle servicing, fuel consumption and vehicle insurance. The development of such a database is on-going.
In recent weeks, there have been some minor difficulties in terms of data that is reported by the MACC Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Cell to the Information Section. In an effort to address these problems, the Information Section met and discussed the issues with the relevant staff of the Operations Section. In response to their discussion, the Information Section began to fine-tune the 'Demining Progress' and the 'Tasking' databases so as to improve and ease the reporting flow between the EOD Cell and the Information Section. Progess was made.
NOTE: Agencies and clients who would like to obtain standard maps of Eritrea, including maps at scales of 1:100,000 and 1:150,000 are requested to contact the UNMEE Geo Cell (Chief of Geo Cell, Rob Gray, Ext. 6974). Customers who would like to obtain mine/UXO specific maps are requested to contact the MACC Information Section where they will have their requests fulfilled within 24 hours. Please contact the Chief of Information, Gerhard Bechtold at Ext.2123.
MEDICAL COORDINATION
The MACC Medical Coordinator (MC) traveled to Massawa to ensure the delivery of two ambulances and three trucks, which have been donated by the Swedish Rescue Services Agency (SRSA) to the national mine action programme, from the Massawa port to Asmara. This exercise was successfully completed at the end of the week.
As the senior representative of SRSA in Eritrea, the MC also began preparing for the visit of a two-person SRSA Team, which will be visiting the mine action programmes in Eritrea at the end of November 2004 to carry out a gender analysis exercise of mine action programmes in the country.
Mine Risk Education (MRE)
The two MACC MRE Field Teams continued to carry out MRE activities in the Gash Barka zoba in Sector West. Team One conducted MRE in a number of villages in the Molki sub-zoba and Team Two in the Om-Hajer sub-zoba. Team One also visited the Dembe Doran Internally Displaced People (IDP) camp. To support their communitybased MRE approach, the Teams used small media effects, including the distribution of MRE posters. Team One also collected UXO discovery reports from the local population. These reports were immediately shared with the MACC Operations Section, which will task the MACC Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Field Team to investigate the UXO discoveries. The FMAC MRE Coordinators conducted their regular MRE Briefings to ten newly arrivedUNMOs and two civilians.
MRE BRIEFINGS
The MACC conducts regular MRE Briefings for all newly arrived UNMEE personnel, including civilians, UNMOs, etc. For time and location, please contact Lt. Col. Francis Kiilu at the MACC at Ext. 2114. All other newly arrived UN agency and NGO staff in the Mission area must contact UNICEF for MRE Briefings. UNICEF's MRE Coordinator is Ms Lejla Susic. (Tel 1511 99, Ext 363)
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