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Sudan

Monthly report of the UN Emergency Mine Action Programme in Sudan: Nov 2002

General
The Machakos Peace Talks have now gone into recess to cater for the consecutive periods of Ramadan and Christmas. The talks are expected to resume on 6 January 2003 and the current cessation of hostilities is also expected to hold through this recess period.

The UN Emergency Mine Action Programme is now in its Consolidation Phase and mine/UXO clearance activities are expected to commence in the Nuba Mountains during the coming month. Preparation and data gathering continues throughout other areas.

Recent Mine-strike Incidents

A mine incident occurred at Kalkada, Nuba Mountains on the 13th November 2002 at 1700hrs. The SPLM/A location of Kalkada is situated approx. 45mins travel by ATV south of JMM Sector Base at Kauda. The area is considered an agricultural area and is currently support by an international NGO, Samaritans Purse, who provide agricultural equipment and technical advice.

The UN Technical advisor and the JMM Sector Commander investigated and conclude with the following findings:

  • The mine was an Anti Tank mine, laid at least prior to 1999 (this was confirmed by the two SPLA/M personnel spoken to at the site).

  • The rear right wheel of the tractor and the metal tray were severely damaged and it is now unusable.

  • The tractor itself was not damaged and neither the driver nor passengers of the vehicle sustained fatal injuries.

This incident serves as a timely reminder of the continued mine/UXO treat in the Nuba Mountains and its residual effect on both the safety of the local population and the international communities ability to deliver timely and cost effective humanitarian aid. Sustained and co-ordinated clearance assets are now required continue the operational momentum achieved thus far and to mitigate against the possibility of further landmine incidents.

National Mine Action Strategy

Following a number of meetings and discussions with both GoS and SPLM and national mine action strategy and approach is now being developed. A Detailed Plan, which focuses on the operational aspects of the Tri-partite GoS/SPLM/UN MOU, has been developed and is currently being circulated among the three parties for comment and mutual acceptance.

SPLM/South Sudan

The UN TA/South Sudan has now completed the move into Rumbek and commenced the establishment of the Southern Sudan Mine Action Co-ordination Office. Discussions with SPLM regarding the provision of a suitable counterpart have been held and SPLM agree to identify an appropriate candidate as soon as possible.

The construction of an office compound has commenced and is expected to be complete by 1 January 2003.

Nuba Mountains

The rainy season is now over and mine clearance operations will shortly commence in the Nuba Mountains. The main priorities have been identified and remain as predominantly the immediate need to open key logistical routes and facilitate the free movement of all people and humanitarian aid throughout the area.

The 2nd meeting of the Nuba Mountains Peace and Conflict Transformation (NMPACT) programme was held in the newly established camp of Al Baty, some 5 km north of Um Sibda. This vital cross line meeting of both GoS and SPLM based authorities and organisations was again made possible through the technical support of the UN mine action advisors; allowing both the area occupied by the camp and the proposed airstrip locations to be surveyed and assessed as free from a mine/UXO hazard. The previously mine/UXO cleared route between Um Sibda and Tangol was also critical. The UN STA attended the meeting and accepted an invitation to formally join the NMPACT Partners Forum.

Following the recent visit of UNMAS and UNOPS HQ personnel it was agreed to look into the feasibility of establishing a mine action information office in Kadugli town centre. The UN TA has now successfully sourced a suitable building and a small proposal to support this requirement was developed. The Government of Switzerland have generously agreed to fund this initiative and an MOU is currently with UNMAS/NY for endorsement.

Clearance Capacity

Sudan Landmine Information Response Initiative (SLIRI)

SLIRI state that they have completed recruitment of 6 outreach monitors and plan to open offices in Juba and Malakal. The office in Kadugli has started to receive some mine incident and suspected area data. Talks have commenced with OXFAM regarding opening a new office in Red Sea State

Landmine Action-UK (LMA)

LMA activities in Nuba Mountains are currently suspended in Nuba Mountains pending resolution of significant issues between LMA and GoS.

Due to this fact and the ongoing delay in receipt of equipment and vehicles, it is not expected that they will be operational until some time in 2003.

JASMAR

Personnel from JASMAR recently attended an International Mine Action Conference held in France at the French military engineer school. They have recently completed a training workshop in collaboration with the Sudanese military engineers. 15 personnel are trained in associated mine action disciplines including first aid and casualty management. This training was conducted with support from ICRC and the spirit of collaboration between a national NGO, ICRC and the military engineers is to be commended.

DCA

DCA confirm that their team is now complete and that all equipment has successfully arrived from Eritrea. It is currently in Port Sudan and the intention is to have it in El Obeid by 7 December. Onwards transit to Kadugli/Um Sibda will follow immediately and it is anticipated that both training and operations will be able to commence before end December.

The EDD teams were all in Kadugli, as were medical and operational support elements. Negotiations with SCBL regarding national partners to implement with were now complete and DCA would work with JASMAR and OSIL to develop a local, cross line, de-mining capacity.

On 2 December 2002 a meeting of the two key mine action partners from both GoS and SPLM areas will be held in Um Sibda. This notable meeting has been brokered by DCA and they are to be commended for this initiative and achievement.

EDD Evaluation Area

Live mines have now been secured from both GoS and SPLA in Nuba Mountains and the newly arrived Ops/QA Officer has commenced laying them in the ground to create a valid EDD evaluation and accreditation area. The mines will require to lay in the ground for an optimum minimum period of 3 months to allow them to "weather" and take on the characteristics of long term buried mines. It is therefore envisaged that comprehensive evaluation/accreditation of EDD in theatre will take place in early March 2003.

In the interim the MACO will recognise the accreditation of EDD successfully evaluated and deployed operationally in other theatres. For dogs that have not been previously accredited in another theatre, the MACO may authorise their employment following a period of acclimatisation and training by the respective organisations; providing that all such dogs are later formally evaluated/accredited as soon as possible in March 2003.

MRE

The UNICEF MRE Co-ordinator is now back in post and the Terms of Reference for the needs assessment/analysis with defined process and methodology is developed. The aims of the assessment are to identify who is most at risk and the extent of the risk in order to develop an appropriate MRE strategy, messages and communication tools. The assessment will also be used as an opportunity to build the capacity of the local research institutions and NGOs.

The Assessment will be conducted in partnership with an International Agency/Consultant, yet to be identified, who will support a Sudanese National Research Institute. The field interviewers will be drawn from existing NGO's, community based organisations and local institutions. Planned areas to commence are Nuba Mountains, Juba and Kassala State.

In co-operation with the UN IMSMA Officer, the MRE coordinator and MRE-Advisory Group are working to simplify the existing IMSMA forms for use in the field with MRE teams. Training on correct usage of the forms is planned for mid January 2003.