HIGHLIGHTS
With the notification on Friday, 1 April
2005, of a generous financial contribution (US$ 250,000) from the German
Government, the UNMEE MACC has now received three quarters of its Voluntary
Trust Fund (VTF) funding for 2005. The VTF is managed by the UN Mine Action
Service (UNMAS). The MACC Programme Manager (PM) is working with donors
to secure the US$100,000 balance of the budget requirements for 2005.
The MACC PM returned from Khartoum, Sudan, on 31 March 2005. There he visited the UN mine action programme, providing advice and support as requested. The UNMEE MACC is now on stand by to send MACC operation staff to Bangladesh to train the Bangladeshi demining coningents on demining operations in accordance with International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) prior to their deployment with the UN Peacekeeping Mission to Sudan.
Updates
OPERATIONS
The route clearance contractor, MECHEM, verified 72.1km of roads in Sector West. On average, the Team verifies 15km per day, as per contract. The Team also found and disposed of 4 unexploded ordnance (UXO).
MECHEM's integrated demining capacity Team continued with integrated demining operations in the Sheshebit mine field in Shilalo in Sector West. In total, the Team cleared 35,477 square meters. Together with the Regional Liaison Officer for Sector West, the Operations Coordinator of the Team carried out a reconnaissance activity of areas that are suited for operations by the mechanical Tapir asset as well as by the Bozenas. The Team will commence clearance operations in these newly identified areas next week.
The Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Field Team deployed to the Tserona and Senafe region in Sector Center where it dealt with a number of UXO discovery reports received from the Mine Risk Education Field Teams as well as from UN Military Observer Team (UNMO) Sites in the area. The Team disposed of 30 UXO.
In Sector West, the MACC operational field staff carried out quality assurance of the demining operations conducted by the Kenyan demining contingent in the Sheshebit mine field of Shilalo. Two field staff were tasked to carry out an investigation on the mine accident that occurred 20 km south-east of the Humera Bridge in Sector West.
INFORMATION
The staff of the Information Section has been re-verifying previously entered mine action data to ensure that completion reports correspond to the correct task and mine field reports. This is currently an on-going process to ensure full accuracy of data contained in the various information databases of the MACC.
The Section received more data of recently tracked roads in Sector West by the MACC operational field staff. This data has been entered into the road database and applied to the production of maps.
In total, the Section printed eleven maps for customers, including the Force Mine Action Center as well as the World Food Programme.
The Chief of Information returned to the Mission area on Friday, 1 April 2005.
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 (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 national Medical Training Assistant carried out a one-week Basic First Aid Training Course at the UNMEE MACC for national staff of MACC's MRE partner, the international NGO, CARE. 29 staff successfully completed the training course.
The MACC Medical Coordinator deployed to Shilalo in Sector West where he inspected the medical assets of the Peacekeeping Force demining contingents. The inspection determined that both contingents have adequate pre-hospital medical equipment.
Mine Risk Educ at ion(MRE)
The two MACC MRE Field Teams made progress in visiting and providing MRE to the population of communities and villages in the Laelay Gash subzoba of the Gash Barka zoba in Sector West. In total, the Teams carried out MRE for 756 people. The Teams will continue to visit villages in the Laelay Gash subzoba, where many of the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) have returned after the closure of the Adi Keshi IDP Camp.
The two Teams also collected eleven reports of UXO discoveries from the local population. These reports were immediately shared with the MACC Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Field Team for future action.
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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