OPT: Mine action - Gaza situation report 25 Jan 2009

GAZA RAPID RESPONSE DEPLOYMENT

GENERAL SITUATION

The expiration of the Hamas seven day ceasefire passed without incident or event.

Personnel Location

Gaza

1. The EOD Technical Advisor (Mark Frankish) 1 x MAG personal (Mark Buswell) 1 x NPA personal (Knut Furness)

2. 1 x NPA (Jan Erik Stoa) managed to cross into Gaza earlier today as part of a Norwegian delegation.

3. The Team Leader (Chris Clark) and 1 x MAG (Steve Priestly) were not permitted to cross as planned this morning but will now will cross into Gaza at 07.00 tomorrow morning (26th).

4. Planning Offr (Allen Kelly), EOD/QA Advisor (Steve Harrop) remain in Jerusalem.

SUMMARY OF ACTIVITIES

5. Liaison with UN agencies continues and the following key activities completed:

a. Met/discussed with OCHA ways to improve ability to cross to/from Gaza in future.

b. Met/discussed with Head UNOPS office ways of acquiring armored vehicles.

c. Discussed equipment and explosive issue with IDF/SOGAT. Still awaiting definite answer.

d. Attended OCHA Humanitarian coordination meeting; relevant issues:

i. OCHA will give priority to activating the Mine Action portal ii. GIS assistance offered from WFP (accepted) iii. OCHA confirm Mine Action Sector inclusion in Flash Appeal iv. Preliminary discussions about Mine Action Sector need/inclusion in

Early recovery Appeal. v. Established a schedule for UXO Safety Briefings for UN staff. MAG will do same for NGO personnel.

SUPPORT TO OVERALL UN HUMANITARIAN RESPONSE

6. Direct support to the UN Humanitarian Response continues:

a. On request from UNRWA a waterworks and a flour mill were checked and cleared of UXO

b. The bombed WFP compound at Karni remains un-accessible due to IDF activity on the border.

c. The following types of ordnance have been encountered:

i. Mk 84 2000lb HE General Purpose air dropped bomb ii. Mk 82 500lb HE General Purpose air dropped bomb iii. Mk 81 250lb HE General Purpose air dropped bomb iv. 155 HE artillery shell v. 155 WP artillery shell vi. 120mm HE mortar vii. 81 mm HE mortar viii. 20mm HE Dual Purpose cannon round ix. 40mm HE fragmentation grenade

d. Assistance is on-going to UN DSS to facilitate their ongoing security assessments of the various sub-areas of Gaza.

FUTURE INTENTIONS

7. Draft an outline mine action structure and Concept of Operations.

8. Continue liaison with COGAT/IDF to facilitate eventual entry into Gaza of EOD Teams (Equipment, personnel and alternatives to bulk explosives)

9. Continue direct support to UN Humanitarian Agencies inside Gaza.

10. Liaise with UNDP to develop proposals for inclusion in the Early Recovery Appeal. 11. Liaise/discuss with UNOPS NY in order to facilitate immediate admin support needs. 12. Meet with PA Civil Defense HQ in Ramallah, West Bank

13. Next Sitrep 27 Jan

14. Note: MA IACG mtg Monday 26th, dial in Clark (+972 549760517 in Gaza, and Kelly +972 549749335 in Jerusalem)