U.S. Department of State

Bureau of Political-Military Affairs
Washington, DC
August 2, 2007

Inside this newsletter:

1. Update from UNMAS
2. Update from UNDP
3. Update from UNICEF

1. Update from UNMAS:

I. POLICY COORDINATION, TREATY IMPLEMENTATION, INFORMATION, AND RESOURCE MOBILIZATION

International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action

The UN Mine Action Team organized events in New York and Geneva and facilitated outreach in more than 30 other cities worldwide to observe the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action on or before April 4. The events aimed to raise awareness about landmines, explosive remnants of war, and progress toward their eradication.

On April 3 in New York, Under-Secretary-General Jean-Marie GuÔGnno led a curtain-raiser press briefing for UN correspondents as part of the Office of the Spokesperson's regular noon briefing. A similar curtain-raiser briefing took place in Geneva in the Palais des Nations on April 3, led by Judith Cheng Hopkins of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

Also in the lead-up to the Day, the UN Mine Action Team and the Department of Public Information developed a video news report using new footage of mine action in Colombia and Tajikistan which was broadcast through the UNIFEED service to newsrooms around the world.

On the Day in New York, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon opened Enduring Fear, a month-long exhibition of photographs about landmines, explosive remnants of war and the people affected by them. UNMAS prepared the Secretary-General's statement, as well as that of Kathleen Cravero of UNDP's Bureau for Crisis Prevention and Recovery, who introduced the Secretary-General. (In Geneva, UNMAS organized a photo exhibit in the Palais des Nations, similar to the one mounted in New York.)

A mock minefield was installed on the North Lawn of the Secretariat, and experts from the U.S. Department of Defense's Humanitarian Demining Training Center planned to demine it throughout the day and explain to visitors how mines are detected, removed and destroyed. Rain, however, made the demonstrations impossible, so the Center's staff instead set up an exhibit inside the General Assembly's visitors' area, adjacent to the photo exhibit.

UNICEF displayed children's drawings about landmines and hosted mine-risk education workshops, also in the Visitors' Lobby. Landmines, cluster munitions and the Anti-personnel Mine-Ban Treaty were on display within the photo exhibit, and computers were set up to allow visitors to use the recently released "Landmine and ERW Safety" interactive training program.

That evening, Adopt-a-Minefield hosted a fund-raising dinner in the UN Delegates Dining Room. UNMAS helped draft the speech delivered at the event by the Secretary-General.

UNDP tapped its network of country offices, and UNICEF called on its national committees and field offices to aid with the outreach.

A number of television stations and networks broadcast one or more of the UN Mine Action Team's video public service announcements throughout the Day. To promote media coverage, the UN Mine Action Team drafted and disseminated press releases, media advisories, and information flyers, often with the support of the Department of Public Information and the global network of UN Information Centres. The Team also developed web content for the E-MINE site at www.mineaction.org. The UN Mine Action Team also produced talking points and FAQs for UN speakers to refer to while doing media interviews, making statements or leading briefings. The Team arranged numerous interviews with journalists who published or broadcast news and features about the day.

Press coverage has been compiled from 42 countries and will be published in a volume to be shared with all UN country offices that hosted local events. In addition, an Australian daily, The Courier-Mail, published an op-ed by UNMAS Director Maxwell Gaylard.

While the majority of the press coverage resulted from outreach by the UN Mine Action Team in collaboration with the UN Department of Public Information and with support from Special Representatives of the Secretary General, a number of articles resulted from events hosted by nongovernmental organizations and other institutions.

Other Outreach

UNMAS and UNDP organized a press trip to Tajikistan 11-15 June to draw attention to the country's struggle against landmines and its effort to clean up cluster munitions stemming from the country's civil war in 1993. Stories have already been published or broadcast by Reuters and BBC radio and TV.

UNMAS assisted the Department of Peacekeeping Operations with a mini-minefield in the visitors' area of the UN General Assembly building as part of DPKO's observance of UN Peacekeepers Day, 29 May.

Meetings of the IACG-MA and its Sub-Groups

UNMAS continued to chair the IACG-MA at working level on a monthly basis. Key policy issues discussed were the UN engagement in the Anti-personnel Mine Ban Treaty, cluster munitions, and specific projects, such as ICRC's mine action activities, WFP's Road Rehabilitation project in south Sudan, DPI's Cyperschoolbus project, and the Big Bang project.

UNMAS developed a key issues paper on the discussion text for the Lima Conference on Cluster Munitions and convened the Cluster Munitions Working Group to help ensure that UN participation at the Lima meeting in May was well-coordinated. The Cluster Munitions Working Group met again after the Lima meeting to reflect on what had happened, based on an analytical note drafted by UNMAS, and to prepare for the CCW GGE meeting on cluster munitions in June. UNMAS also organized and convened a meeting of the Steering Committee on Gender and Mine Action in June to discuss a range of upcoming activities and projects (see below).

International Legal Framework

The meetings of the Standing Committees of the Anti-personnel Mine Ban Treaty (APMBT Intersessionals) were held in Geneva between 23 and 27 April 2007. UNMAS coordinated the development of several statements that were delivered on behalf of the UN Mine Action Team (UNMAT) to each of the Standing Committees. UNMAS and members of the UNMAT also contributed to meetings of the Contact Groups on Universalization, Resource Mobilization, Article 7 and Linking Mine Action and Development (LMAD) and the special programme for victim assistance experts. UNMAS was invited to and participated in the LMAD Practitioners' Network Meeting organized by the GICHD in the margins of the Intersessionals.

UNMAS continued to support activities commemorating the tenth anniversary of the adoption of the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Treaty. The UNMAS Director delivered a statement on behalf of the UNMAT at the Brussels event on 9 May entitled "New Perspectives for a World without Mines."

UNMAS delivered a statement on behalf of the UNMAT at the meeting of the Preparatory Committee for the First Conference of High Contracting Parties to CCW Protocol V on ERW (Geneva, 18 June). At the request of the President-designate, UNMAS, on behalf of the UNMAT, prepared a working paper on recording, retaining and transmitting information on explosive ordnance used or abandoned during conflicts. The paper informed discussions at the PrepCom meeting and inspired the adoption of recommendations to the CCW Conference to be convened in November.

In addition, UNMAS coordinated the delivery of several UNMAT statements on the topic of cluster munitions to the Group of Governmental Experts of States Parties to the CCW (Geneva, 19-22 June). The statements were made based on consulted and agreed text prior to the meetings. The GGE recommended that States Parties to the CCW in November 2007 decide how best to address the humanitarian impact of cluster munitions as a matter of urgency, including "the possibility of a new instrument".

Cluster Munitions

The UNMAS Liaison Officer and the UNMACC-SL Programme Manager participated in the ICRC Expert Meeting "Humanitarian Military, Technical and Legal Challenges of Cluster Munitions" (Montreux, 18-20 April 2007). The UNMACC-SL Programme Manager made a presentation on "High reliability cluster munitions: clearance perspectives."

The Liaison Officer in Geneva represented UNMAS at the Lima Conference on cluster munitions (Lima, Peru, 23-25 May 2007) and coordinated participation of the UNMAT in this event. (See also above IACG-MA Meetings).

Advancing Gender Equality in Mine Action Programmes

UNMAS is leading the planning for the 2007 Gender Equality and Mine Action Workshop to be held in September. The Workshop will follow a similar agenda to last year's, but will focus on programmes in Africa and Asia. UNMAS is also in the process of recruiting a person to work on the development of gender-sensitive impact assessment tools.

UNMAS headquarters staff remains fully engaged in system-wide, agency-specific and departmental working groups and task forces that seek to advance gender equality and regularly share lessons learned from the mine action sector. During the quarter, the DPKO Gender Task Force was briefed on the conduct and lessons learned from the UNMAS gender audit of core mine action documents. Subsequently, DPKO decided to develop a methodology for a department-wide gender audit. UNMAS, on behalf of the IACG, participated in all meetings of the SCR 1325 Task Force, and reported on the implementation of the SCR 1325 Action Plan for 2006-2007 and developed initiatives for the new SCR 1325 Action Plan for 2007-2008. For the report of the Secretary-General on implementation of SCR 1325, UNMAS also submitted a Good Practices Survey documenting the IACG-MA Steering Committee's innovative initiatives to ensure gender equality in UN mine action.

Portfolio Process

An updated version of the 2007 Portfolio of Mine Action Projects, reflecting project and appeal information current as of the first quarter of 2007, is available at www.mineaction.org. The Mid-Year Review of Portfolio project funding is underway.

The production of the 2008 Portfolio was launched on 15 June by the HQ Portfolio Team comprising UNMAS, UNDP and UNICEF. In-country coordination of partners, including national authorities, donors and implementing partners, both national and international, has been initiated. This edition will be the first to be produced using a web-based document submission system for which most country coordinators received basic training during the Ninth National Directors and UN Advisors Meeting in Geneva in March.

The Portfolio Team strongly encourages and invites donor representatives based in landmine/ERW-affected countries to participate in the consultations convened by the Country Portfolio Coordinator to plan activities and priorities for 2008 and to discuss ways to improve the Portfolio as a resource tool and reference document for donors and other stakeholders.

New Features on EMINE

E-MINE has changed the way to access content related to treaties, policies, strategies and official UN documents that include references to mine action.

From the home page, a new "Treaties & Law" links directly to the Anti-personnel Mine-Ban Treaty, the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons, other humanitarian law, human rights law and refugee law. The human rights treaties section is designed to be a tool to help monitor implementation of the UN inter-agency mine action strategy for 2006 - 2010.

A new "Strategy & Guidance" link provides access to the UN inter-agency mine action policy and strategy, as well as other types of guidelines, such as those for integrating mine action into ceasefire agreements.

A new "UN Document Library" link provides access to reports and resolutions to and by the General Assembly and the Security Council, as well as relevant documents from the Human Rights Council and the Economic and Social Council, and reports and speeches related to the Millennium Development Goals.

II. NEW PLEDGES, EARMARKS AND CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE VOLUNTARY TRUST FUND (VTF)

Contributions to the Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Action for the Second Quarter (April to June 2007):

Confirmed Pledges to the Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Action for the Second Quarter (April to June 2007):

III. TECHNOLOGY

Support to the European Standardisation (CEN) Workshops has continued in this period and UNMAS provided coordination support to the 2007 International Symposium on Mine Action Technologies held in Croatia 23 to 27 April. Following this meeting, speculative plans were discussed regarding the potential of joining the National Directors meeting and the Croatian Symposium in 2008.

Support was also provided, with GICHD, to Egyptian national authorities for the conduct of their metal detector trials and final selection.

UNMAS, as an Observer, attended the International Test and Evaluation Programme (ITEP) meeting of the Board of Directors and the Report of the Executive Committee of ITEP was welcomed.

Input was provided to the coordinating Working Group of the Centre for European Standardization (CEN) with regard to future areas of potential work and direct support was provided to the Working Groups developing the Workshop Agreements on follow on activity behind machines and the testing of Personal Protective Equipment.

VI. DEVELOPMENTS IN UNMAS-MANAGED PROGRAMMES

Afghanistan

The UNMAS Director, Chief of Programme Support and Programme Officer deployed to Afghanistan in early April and consulted with the Government of Afghanistan, the United Nations Mission, the international community and implementing partners. Meetings were held with the Minister of Foreign Affairs to discuss the transition of the programme to national ownership and to discuss increased cooperation, whilst funding of the Programme was discussed with the Deputy Minister of Finance and representatives of the Mine Action Consultative Working Group.

The support of the international community for the Programme was seen to be increasing, particularly due to the positive operational changes instituted within the previous six months and the shift to nationalisation of key posts. A further key step in this nationalisation process occurred in late June with the selection of Dr. Haider Reza (former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Deputy Minister of Commerce for Afghanistan) as the new Director of the Programme, the first time a national has held this post since the programme was established in 1989. This news has been met extremely positively by the international community, many of whom know Dr. Reza from his time as the Government lead on mine action, and his advocacy for accession to the Mine Ban Treaty.

Security incidents have impacted the implementation of the programme in some areas, particularly in May and June, with 7 commercial demining personnel killed in the Kandahar region, a range of other ambush incidents on implementing partner road convoys, the occupation and theft of vehicles, uniforms and equipment from an NGO compound, and the taking of 17 demining personnel hostage in Ghazni. These incidents have caused the suspension and relocation of some activities; however, there are indications that many attacks are due to misidentification of mine action vehicles and personnel by armed groups or entering into combat areas unknowingly. Additionally, various hostage-taking incidents have resulted in the negotiated release of personnel based on the positive and neutral reputation of the mine action personnel and their work. As a result, field operations are continuing, including in some contested areas such as the Panjwai Valley where low profile activities have been underway since April.

DRC (MONUC)

In the Democratic Republic of Congo, the UNMACC has not yet been successful in identifying counterparts in the newly established government to facilitate the establishment of a national mine action structure. DCA, HIB, MAG and MECHEM have continued ongoing Survey-Mine/EOD clearance operations, and IMMAP/VFA is going to resume emergency survey and clearance activities in the Equateur Province in the coming months. UNMAS has secured a significant amount of voluntary funding that will support mine action activities for the next nine to 12 months.

Eritrea (UNMEE)

The UNMEE Mine Action Coordination Centre (MACC) continued to carry out humanitarian demining and force demining protection through route clearance, mine risk education, explosive ordnance disposal works and other related activities. Despite encountering growing restrictions in many areas in Sector Centre and Sector West, UNMEE-MACC continues to carry out its operations effectively.

South Lebanon

In south Lebanon, clean-up of unexploded cluster munitions continued, resulting in more than 122,000 bomblets destroyed. Since the last newsletter, an additional 59 new cluster strike locations have been identified by the United Nations Mine Action Centre - South Lebanon (MACC-SL) which increased the contaminated area up to 37.1 million square metres.

As of 30 June, a total of 928 cluster strike locations have been recorded while a total of 31% of the surface and 17% of the sub-surface of the contaminated areas have been cleared as the result of the joint efforts of LAF, UNIFIL, and UN operating under the coordination of the UN MACC-SL (including 75 UN contracted and bilaterally funded teams and 22 UNIFIL teams).

Since the cease-fire, a total of 208 civilians have been injured (184) or killed (24) as a result of cluster munitions.

The overall objective is to have a mine and cluster munitions impact-free Southern Lebanon by December 2007, except for the Blue Line, provided that the necessary funding is available. In theory, the absence of a mine or unexploded sub-munitions threat would therefore no longer require sustainability of the MACC-SL in its current structure. On 8 May, however, the Director of the Lebanese Mine Action Centre (LMAC)¹ officially requested the UNMACC to stay throughout 2008.

Assessments of the financial and operational implications are underway. While UNMACC's 2007 objective of a "mine and cluster munitions impact-free South Lebanon except for the Blue Line" remains, 2008 would allow all parties to properly finalise remaining clearance tasks, coordination, capacity building activities and for UNMACC to hand-over a manageable programme to LMAC by 31 December 2008.

Sudan (UNMIS)

Achievements in Sudan for April and May include the clearance of 2,283,091 square meters (m²), the assessment of 6,553 km of road, and the destruction of 819 AP mines, 220 AT mines, and 97,018 UXO. Mine risk education was provided to 158,176 persons. In addition to supporting the UN Mission in Sudan, voluntary donor contributions are increasing the UN Mine Action Office's ability to address humanitarian needs, especially in support of returning refugees and internally displaced persons in Southern Sudan and Transitional Areas.

In accordance with Article 4 of the Mine Ban Treaty, the Government of Sudan conducted the demolition of 4,488 anti-personnel (AP) mines on 30 April. The Government of Sudan has reiterated its commitment to meet its obligations under the Mine Ban Treaty and confirmed that Sudan will destroy the remaining stockpiled AP mines before the deadline of 30 April 2008.

Challenges in the second quarter include the on-going deterioration of the security situation in Darfur, travel restrictions in Kassala, and the early arrival of the rainy season in Southern Sudan. The travel restrictions in Kassala are seriously hampering ongoing survey and clearance operations in Eastern Sudan.

The endorsement of the National Victims Assistance strategy by the Government of National Unity is leading to the establishment of mine survivors laws, a victim database system linked with the Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA), as well as providing a coordinated strategic framework for national and international NGOs implementing VA projects. Through the Human Security Trust Fund project, a victim assistance needs assessment is being completed in Wau and Juba. A second national victim assistance workshop to establish a national victim assistance work plan will be held on 28 and 29 August in Khartoum.

On 10 June, the President of the Sudan awarded a certificate of recognition to the UN Mine Action Office (UNMAO) for its humanitarian work in support of the people of the Sudan.

Nepal (UNMIN)

In January, 2007, UNMAS deployed a small Mine Action Unit (MAU) within the UN Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) to act as the focal point for mine/improvised explosive devices (IEDs)/unexploded ordnance matters and provide advice to the SRSG and to UN Monitors, and a specialized commercial company, Armour Group, has been contracted, with funding from the Nepal Peace Fund, and deployed to Nepal on 15 April. During the reporting period, MAU has developed a demolition plan of items classified as unsafe to store that has been now formally approved by the JMCC, and will be initiated by Armour Group on 9 July. The MAU is also continuing to assist the Government of Nepal, through the Ministry for Peace and Reconstruction, in establishing their national mine action structure and capacity. In this respect, a national mine action steering committee has been recently created under the chairmanship of the Ministry for Peace and Reconstruction. The MAU has also developed, and is implementing, a training programme aimed at improving the Nepalese Army mine/IED/UXO clearance capacity.

Western Sahara (MINURSO)

In Western Sahara, Landmine Action (LMA), a UK-based NGO which deployed in August 2006, is continuing Survey/Battle Area Clearance/Explosive Ordnance Disposal activities within the POLISARIO-controlled areas of the territory. They are currently operating within the Mehaires area and will move to the southern sector later on. UNMAS has mobilized sufficient resources to continue supporting LMA's activities until mid-2008. In addition, UNMAS will continue to support MINURSO involvement in mine action through permanent deployment of a civilian mine action advisor to the Mission HQs. This would be effective in August and will assist in coordination and development of mine action within the Territory.

Cyprus (UNFICYP)

UNMAS conducted a technical mission to the European Union-financed demining project implemented by UNDP. The visit came as the project is stalled due to a lack of access to Turkish minefields in the buffer zone, stemming from disagreement over the origin of the EU funds that Turkish Cypriots contend are only intended for the north and not for bi-communal projects. The impasse was noted by EU parliamentarians visiting the island during a press conference on 4 July. Without access to minefields, the programme, along with UNFICYP, is looking at various contingencies as well as further reductions in capacity that may have an impact on the project's ability to commence operations in a timely manner should a resolution be found.

Somalia

An interagency assessment mission on mine action in Somalia was conducted from 25 June through 1 July. The Mission, which was co-led by UNMAS and UNDP Somalia, included representatives from UNOPS New York and UNHCR Somalia. In addition to meeting with UN agencies and NGOs in Nairobi, a portion of the team visited Baidoa and Mogadishu in Somalia for meetings with OCHA, UN Department of Safety and Security (DSS) and AU peacekeepers from Uganda. Preliminary findings indicate the need for increased survey activities with EOD response capability in the south and center of the country to gauge fully the ERW problem along with providing support to fledgling national structures. To date, mine action in Somalia has had limited potential in the south and center, but should the national reconciliation process move forward, mine action will be a key confidence builder and enabler of that process and economic recovery and development.

Other Operational Support

A new interactive Landmine and ERW Safety Training DVD has been produced. The DVD culminates with a competency based test. The product is being distributed within the UN family, the wider mine action community and other relevant actors. Feedback to date from all agencies provided with the DVD has been positive. UNMAS will lead an effort to have the training mainstreamed within DPKO and the wider UN.

The annual Rapid Response Plan (RRP) exercise was conducted in June in conjunction with our logistic support stand-by partner, Swedish Rescue Services Agency (SRSA). The exercise trained selected staff in the establishment and management of a Mine Action Coordination Centre functioning in an emergency situation. The exercise scenario reflected the enactment of a Protection Cluster response, with this environment given credibility by the welcome involvement of representatives from WFP, UNICEF, and UNHCR.

2. Update from UNDP

The following is a summary of key achievements, challenges, objectives and funding issues for UNDP-supported country programmes, presented by region:

AFRICA

Angola

Key Achievements

• The Landmine Impact Survey (LIS) final report has been drafted and is awaiting certification. LIS results are being widely used by the government in setting policies and priorities, and by all demining organizations and stakeholder in the country.
  
  
• Annual National Operational Mine Action Planning cycle, format, method, process, procedure and guidelines were produced and are now being implemented for the next year planning cycle. Prioritization of the tasks will be decided by local authorities with full consideration to the goals and objectives of the 2006-2011 strategic plan.
  
  
• CNIDAH's victim assistance pillar was fully re-assessed by an external consultant and tangible recommendations were provided to restructure the pillar. The database module for collecting mine victim data has been re-designed within IMSMA which will be followed by a comprehensive data collection process.
  
  
• An analytical tool for MRE is developed using the LIS database with a priority setting tool. In the new approach and methodology, the focus will be on a particular target group at risk instead of general risk awareness education.
  
  
• Improved communication at provincial levels where VSAT (very small aperture terminal) have been installed. This will enable CNIDAH Provincial Operational Rooms to access email and the internet and connect CNIDAH central to the provinces.
  
  
• 82 communities (high, medium and low impacted) with a total population of 209,625 have been declared "mine free" with a total of 6.3 million square meters of suspected land released through area reduction and clearance. Another 125 communities (high, medium and low impacted) with a total of 205,612 people and 46 million square meters have been downgraded from high to medium or to low as a result of combined clearance and technical survey efforts. The reduction represents 10% of all known suspected hazardous areas in impacted communities since the LIS was completed.
  
  
• The Rapid Response Fund (RRF) Project for Mine Action, in its second phase, continued to support projects (nine projects approved in the last quarter) not only related to survey and clearance but also to MRE and Victims Assistance bringing the total to 16 funded projects submitted by international and local NGOs. The Fund provides the initial financing of mine action emergency activities configured as urgent (of short duration), unexpected and those that restrict humanitarian and recovery operations.
  
  
• In June, a delegation from Angola National Demining Institute (INAD) visited the International Mine Action Training Centre (IMATC) in Nairobi. The purpose of this study visit was to provide the INAD Directors and Managers with ideas to upgrade and renovate the INAD Technical Demining School.

Chad

Key Achievements

• MineTech started Battle Area Clearance (BAC) with two HCND EOD teams mid-May 2007. At the end of June, three towns and surrounding areas were cleared (Biltine, AdrôUand Guöéda).
  
  
• On 28 June, a decree was signed by the President to reorganize HCND in two elements: a national authority with a board and CND as an executive organization.
  
  
• MRE campaigns funded by UNICEF were launched to benefit refugees, IDPs and the local population. In addition, training teachers in MRE as part of their curriculum was undertaken by HCND.
  
  
• US$ 40,000 was raised from Canada to clear the town of Biltine of UXOs.

Key Objectives

• Reduce significantly the number of UXO victims in the Eastern Regions of Chad. The number of victims for 2007 increased from 56 for the first three months to 142 at the end of June 2007 (83.8% are children).
  
  
• Undertake national technical survey/clearance/EOD operations in order to evaluate the remaining clearance work to be done and to estimate the ABMBT Article 5 deadline extension needed.
  
  
• Pursue BAC activities in the Eastern Regions of Chad while extending the on-going MineTech contract after the 23 July deadline.
  
  
• Resume demining activities to fulfill APMBT obligations.

Key Challenges

• Raise funds to pursue BAC activities, implement a national technical survey and resume mine clearance activities.
  
  
• Reorganize HCND according to Decree 498 signed by the President on 28 June.

Funding shortfall for 2007

• US$ 7,675,984 (approximately 99% of required mine action funds in Portfolio 2007). Funding still required to allow Chad to fulfill its APMBT obligations.
  
  
• Due to insufficient funding in 2006, the program and objectives were delayed until 2007. For the same reasons, if there are no new contributions, the 2007 program and objectives will be postponed to 2008.
  
  
• The first consequence is the increasing number of victims. The second is that Chad will not be able to meet its obligations under the Ottawa Treaty by 2009.
  
  
• Before the end of the year, Chad will need to ask for an extension of its deadline. The lack of technical survey will prove difficult to estimate the extension request.
  
  
• Local associations for people with disabilities proposed various projects through the Portfolio for the last four years and are now discouraged by the absence of financing.
  

Mauritania

Key Achievements

• Mauritania hosted a visit by Ambassador Nellen and his delegation from the GICHD from 24 February to 3 March; they visited the national programme, government representatives and civil authorities, UN officials and local NGOs.
  
  
• Official activities to commemorate 4 April were held in Zourate, with opening remarks provided by the Head of UNICEF and the SG Representative for the Ministry of National Defence. Local administration, government representatives and NGOs associated with mine risk education and survivor assistance attended. Nouadhibou hosted additional activities to recognize the importance of this event.
  
  
• A joint decree signed by the Minister of Economic Affairs and Development and the Secretary General for the Ministry of National Defence (on 9 April), designated the Coordinator for the National Humanitarian Demining Programme for Development (PNDHD). This new humanitarian demining organization (replacing the former BNDH) will report to the Ministry of Economy and Finance.
  
  
• The final Landmine Impact Survey Report for Mauritania was completed by the Survey Action Centre, which is currently being used to revise the national mine action strategy.
  
  
• Initiated revisions to the national mine action strategy.

Key Objectives

• Complete LIS certification
  
  
• Revise national strategy (Completion initiative)
  
  
• Conduct planning activities for mine action activities in 2007

Key challenges

• Address funding shortfalls

Mozambique

• The IND (National Demining Institute) conducted the final quality assurance of The HALO Trust's MIFD (Mine Impact Free Districts) programme. The MIFD has been conducted over the last three years and has included visiting every community and subsequently clearing all known mined areas in the four Northern provinces, representing 51% of the countries total land mass.
  
  
• The extensive joint survey efforts (Baseline Assessment) in the remaining six provinces of Mozambique, which began during the 1^st quarter of 2007, continued during this period as well. This effort is programmed to be completed by October and will include the technical survey of all remaining mined areas and the total reconciliation of the national database in order to accurately calculate the effort required, in both time and resources, for Mozambique to meet its obligations under the APBMT.
  
  
• The release of the final version of the NMAP (2007-2010) has been postponed until the results of the aforementioned joint survey are made available.
  
  
• During the period under review, only three humanitarian mine action agencies (HT, HI and APOPO) were working in Mozambique and they had sufficient funds to undertake their respective work. HT, however, beside their mine clearance work in the four northern provinces of Mozambique, needed approximately 440,000 USD to undertake the abovementioned Baseline Assessment in the six remaining provinces of Mozambique. They collected all but approximately 50,000 USD from various donors including the GoMz. They approached the GoMz to cover the shortfall. In the meantime, IND/MOFA has recently approached various donors' missions here in Moz for financial support for their day to day operations. Outcome of this approach is yet to be determined.
  

Uganda

Key Achievements

• Mine Action has been fully integrated within the Peace Recovery and Development Plan (PRDP) for Northern Uganda
  
  
• Targeted Needs assessments completed in Gulu (91 SHA) and Kitgum (153 SHA) and partially completed in Amuru (61 SHA)
  
  
• 13 SHA in Lira district were cleared
  
  
• Two additional multi-purpose demining teams were deployed.
  
  
• DDG (funded by DANIDA) and NPA are preparing to support the Mine Action Programme
  
  
• International Mine Action Training Centre Nairobi (IMACT) trained 20 army engineers, three paramedics and two deminers for demining and advanced EOD.
  
  
• UMAC Operations Cell staff completed a quality assurance training at IMATC Nairobi
  
  
• Victim Assistance indicators developed and completed the first stage of field tests
  
  
• Resources mobilized; Austria (Euro187,534) and Australia (US$ 410,850)

Key Objectives

• Final Draft of National Mine Action Standards (NMAS) completed through a workshop facilitated by GICHD expert and opened by Ambassador Nellen, GICHD Director
  
  
• Comprehensive Victim Assistance Planning Conference with Standing Committee VA co-chair, GICHD Ministry of Gender, Labour and Social Development hosting
  
  
• Technical survey/clearance/EOD operations to be completed in Gulu
  
  
• One additional multi-purpose demining team and one quality control team deployed
  
  
• Second field tests completed on victim assistance indicators
  
  
• Establish and enhance landmine survivor groups in 4 districts

Key Challenges

• The return of IDPs is happening quickly and there is an urgent, ongoing need for mine action as a pre-requisite to respond for their safe and protected return.
  
  
• Risk of segregation in northern Uganda affecting landmine survivors with disability
  
  
• UN Agency collaboration using an integrated, coordinated approach based upon the established framework

Funding shortfall

• Most of the still required funds are planned for victim assistance activities as:

- Affirmative Action (US$ 300,000)
- Referral and Access to Rehabilitation and Physiotherapy for LMS (US$ 450,000)
- Sustainable Livelihoods for LMS in areas of return (US$ 730,000)
- Technical assistance (victim assistance advisor) (US$95,000)
- Operational cost for two multi purpose demining teams (USD 160,000)
- Development and operational cost one QC team (USD 120,000)

ARAB STATES

Algeria

• UNDP mine action support project has gained speed since May with the recruitment of a full-time project coordinator and a part-time technical adviser.
  
  
• UNDP project team and the head of the Interministerial Committee on the Implementation of the Mine Ban Treaty visited the Eastern and Western regions of Algeria (Challe and Morice lines) which are particularly affected by landmines. This visit enabled the team to assess the size of the problem and its socio-economic consequences.
  
  
• Terms of reference for the implementation of a landmine survey have been drafted. A tender will be launched at the end of July.
  
  
• Mine risk education activities are planned to begin in August in collaboration with Handicap International.
  
  
• Both the embassies of Canada and Belgium have been visited as part of resource mobilization efforts.

Egypt

• Detector trials by five commercial companies took place in May. The Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) was invited to observe the trials, which were supervised and judged by a national/international, civilian/military jury. The technical report of the trials can be found at http://www.unddp-mic.org/.
  
  
• UNDP mine action project was launched in Egypt as of January 1^st, with the aim of ridding that country of the World War II ERW. The project document envisages mine action to be conducted in two phases.
  
  
  • The first phase covered by the November 2006 agreement will last for 18 months, costing close to U.S$ 3.2 million. Mobilized funds for phase one so far amount to US$ 1.6 million, raised from different sources such as UNMAS, BCPR, DFID, UK Embassy Egypt, government cost-sharing from the Ministry of International Cooperation and UNDP TARA resources.
    
    
  • Phase Two will seek to completely clear the affected area and is projected to take five to six years. The second phase's terms of reference will be greatly influenced by the results of the experimental pilot first phase. The project document is constructed around four objectives:

a) The establishment of a national focal point at the Ministry of International Cooperation named the Executive Secretariat for the Demining and Development of the North West Coast,

b) The conduct of demining activities in cooperation with the Egyptian Armed Forces, which is the sole organ entrusted with handling ERW in the country,

c) The elaboration of strategy papers for communications and resource mobilization, and

d) The conduct of Victim Assistance and Mine Risk Education activities. A work plan, based upon clear deliverables, was approved for the first year, covering all four objectives, and implementation has been proceeding satisfactorily.

Iraq

• UNDP supported the establishment of an Iraqi Humanitarian Mine Action NGO based in Basra, registered as Rafidain Demining Organization (RDO). The objective of RDO has been to engage in community needs-based mine clearance and MRE through the dispatch of community liaison teams. Despite the worsening security situation, they have managed to clear 7,683,385 square meters of land of 5,882 explosive items, releasing the land for agricultural use in the period April 1 to June 30. This NGO employs approximately 150 Iraqis directly, and its clearance of agricultural land generated additional employment and stimulated the local economy.
  
  
• The situation at the National Mine Action Authority (NMAA) has been increasingly turbulent. In May, the Director General of NMAA was kidnapped, without any news of his safe return to date. In June, the Council of Ministers issued a letter stipulating that the NMAA would be moved out of the Ministry of Planning and Development Cooperation. At this stage, the Government has not made a final decision on an appropriate Ministry to which the NMAA will be allocated. Against this backdrop, UNDP is currently preparing for an emergency Mine Action Workshop, drawing high level representatives from various Ministries (such as Environment, Defense and Planning) to discuss the future placement, mandate and structure of the NMAA.
  
  
• UN took extra caution in planning activities for 2007 due to limited available funding. It is becoming a trend to link mine action with other developmental projects to maximize the effectiveness of available funding. For instance, MRE activities have been linked with area- based interventions and other activities under child protection, while mine clearance is linked with agricultural development in southern Iraq.
  
  
• The Government of Japan has provided US$ 2.4 million for a two-year UN joint project (between UNDP and WHO) on victim assistance in northern Iraq. AusAID has also committed approximately US$ 1.65 million for support of the abovementioned Iraqi NGO active in Basra governorate, southern Iraq.

Jordan

8MSP

• NCDR Chairman and President Designate of the 8MSP, H.R.H. Prince Mired Al Hussein and Deputy Secretary General of the 8MSP Lina Abu Nuwar attended the Meetings of the Intersessional Standing Committees in Geneva from 23-27 April along with other senior NCDR personnel. The President Designate's 'Initial Ideas' program and agenda for the 8MSP were presented, and administrative arrangements explained.
  
  
• NCDR hosted an 8MSP Donor Working Group meeting during the week of the Intersessionals, and presented members of the donor community with a progress report on preparations for the 8MSP, reviewed the proposal and budget and also requested donor assistance to cover the remaining shortfall of US$93,510 from the 8MSP budgeted costs.
  
  
• NCDR and the Government of Canada co-hosted a meeting on the 'Universalization of the Mine Ban Convention in the Arab World' during the week of the Meetings of the Intersessional Standing Committees. During this week, NCDR also hosted a workshop on 'Partnerships for Completion- Jordan, a Case Study.'
  
  
• H.R.H Prince Mired called a press conference on 12 June in Kuwait to introduce the 8MSP, its vision, objectives and preparations. The press conference witnessed a high turnout from all major newspapers and television stations in Kuwait, and representatives of regional and international radio and TV stations were also present.
  
  
• H.R.H. Prince Mired and Lina Abu Nuwar traveled to Geneva to attend the meetings of the coordinating committee on 28-29 June. H.R.H. Prince Mired presented the first draft of the 'Dead Sea Progress Report' to the committee which reviewed and approved it.

International Relations

• In cooperation with the UNDP office in Jordan, NCDR organized a celebration on April 4^th to commemorate the "International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action" in the town of Um Jimal in Mafraq, just a few kilometers from one of the most pressing demining tasks in Jordan. The event included speeches by H.R.H. Prince Mired Al Hussein, NCDR's Chairman of the Board, Mr. Luc Stevens, UN Resident Coordinator, and the Governor of Mafraq, Mr. Khalid Awadalla.
  
  
• The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and the Government of Kuwait co-hosted a two day seminar on the 'Human Cost of Landmines and Explosive Remnants of War' to countries of the GCC in May. NCDR Chairman, H.R.H. Prince Mired, spoke at the formal opening of the seminar.
  
  
• Senior NCDR personnel traveled to Belgium to attend the 10^th Anniversary Celebrations of the Mine Ban Convention which took place in Brussels on 9 May. In addition to participating in the celebrations, NCDR took the opportunity to meet with representatives of NATO and the EU to discuss present and future cooperation in Mine Action. NCDR also visited the Belgian School for Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD).
  
  
• NCDR's Deputy Head of Operations and members of the Quality Management (QM) team visited Bosnia-Herzegovina from 24-28 June to attend a workshop given by the National Mine Action Authority in BiH. NCDR saw a demonstration of demining techniques used in Bosnia focusing on the training and use of dogs to detect landmines.

Mine Clearance

• NCDR's Quality Management Team Leader was seconded to the Landmine Retrofit Survey (LRS) program as a technical advisor from April to August of this year. Additionally, Mr. Per, an International Operational Technical Advisor, arrived in Jordan in April for two months.
  
  
• NCDR held a QM training course under the supervision of the International Operational Technical Advisor from 27 May to 7 June for 12 retired engineering officers. The aim is to select eight of the twelve to be recruited as quality assurance and quality control officers for the Quality Management team.
  
  
• The QM team has expanded as six new members joined the team in March, bringing the total to twelve. The expansion was a response to the pressing demands emerging from the particular nature of the operations undertaken by the QM team.
  
  
• NCDR led a technical survey mission to the Aqaba area that was carried out for two weeks during April. A great amount of support was received from the Royal Belgium Navy (EOD Divers team) and additional cooperation from the REC, NPA and the Royal Navy.
  
  
• In April, two members of the QM team participated in the Croatia Symposium on quality control and quality assurance. A member of the QM team also attended a course on 'Information management in Mine Action Operation' organized by UNDP-Iraq that was held in Petra, Jordan, for two weeks in June.
  
  
• NCDR Deputy Director and Head of Operations and two members of the QM team visited the NPA program in Bosnia-Herzegovina as well as the National Mine Action Center and the NPA Global Training Center in June. The aim of the visit was to increase their knowledge and understanding of techniques used by Mine Detection Dogs.
  
  
• The QA Team carried out 25 field visits for REC and NPA in the second quarter of 2007, while the QC Team sampled 13 NPA Minefields in the Wadi Araba area and eight REC Minefields in North Shuna area, covering a total area of 215,300m².
  
  
• Due to the high clearance rate of the REC Demining Team, the North Shuna Mine Clearance Project (NSMCP) is ahead of schedule. Consequently, the NCDR requested a budget revision from the European Commission (EC) to include the last 18 minefields remaining in the Jordan Valley without any additional cost. Mine Clearance in these minefields are expected to be completed by the end of the year.
  
  
• The REC's clearance operations are currently progressing in five Jordanian minefields using five manual, three mechanical and two machinery teams, embracing an area of 150,000m².
  
  
• Additionally, the Royal Engineering Corps (REC) handed over 17 minefields to NCDR, for an overall area of 376,360m².
  
  
• The Norwegian People's Aid (NPA) handed over 35 minefields to NCDR, with an overall area of 114,935m². Quality Control (QC) operations were then carried out by the Quality Management (QM) team starting from the period of 1 April up until the present time.
  
  
• In the second quarter of 2007, NPA manually cleared a total of 23,590m² of land and mechanically cleared 114, 935 m² of land. A total of 1,508 anti-personnel (AP) mines and one anti-tank (AT) mine were cleared by NPA's Manual Demining Team.
  
  
• The Northern Border Clearance Project (NBCP) was launched in March following a US$ 1 million donation from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) to be implemented by NPA.
  
  
• 55 newly recruited deminers graduated from training on 5 May, and were deployed to the minefields to begin mine clearance operations.
  
  
• On 15 May, the Mine Detection Dog (MDD) Team arrived from NPA's Global Training Centre in Bosnia and Herzegovina to provide necessary training of the MDDs in the field. As of June, NPA began using the team of trained mine detection dogs in their scheduled technical surveys and verification. The MDD team is currently working in the South of the Wadi Araba region.

Mine Risk Education (MRE)

• A UNICEF funded Mine Risk Education Advisor, Ms. Noura Al Achkar, joined NCDR in May for three months. The MRE department is looking to expand its team to meet the demands required by the MRE Action Plan, and subsequently has hired two new personnel members with a further two positions still to be filled.
  
  
• As of May, the MRE Department began hosting monthly coordination meetings and developed the first draft of a MRE Manual which will be field tested and then adopted on a national level. The MRE department organized and carried out MRE training for providers from 17-21 June.
  
  
• The MRE department is currently working on MRE reporting mechanisms, including a MRE activity form, victim form, village risk taking form and needs assessment report form. MRE is also training a Community Liaison officer, as well as developing MRE materials and publications.

Landmine Retrofit Survey (LRS)

• Two survey teams were established and trained on Task Impact Assessment (TIA) methodology. Impacted communities were identified and each community was visited. Three types of questionnaires were developed to gather data; a field visit to the dangerous area was also carried out by the survey team. During the TIA, the average household income was studied and estimated depending on indicators such as landownership, type of crop, household observations and number of dependants. The TIA compared current and expected income after clearance. The study expected a 25% increase in household income in one year's time.
  
  
• The LRS Technical Assessment (TA) aims at providing clearance recommendations for all TA visited areas according to national and international standards. To achieve this objective all active minefields were visited and operational data was provided. The TA provided data on type and number of mines in each minefield, terrain data, slope, and clearance recommendations such as required clearance methodology, working days assets and area size.
  
  
• The LRS team compiled a comprehensive analytical study for the eastern region of Al Mafraq. It included both impact and operational data for each impacted community and active minefield in the area. Similar clearance plans will be developed for the Northern part of the Kingdom in the coming few months.

Lebanon

Key Achievements

• In May, the Government of Lebanon approved the National Mine Action Policy. This policy will strengthen the national capacity for mine action and ensure increased transparency in the setting of national mine action priorities. In addition, the new policy describes Lebanon's aspiration to become a state party to the Protocol on Prohibitions or Restrictions on the Use of Mines, Booby-Traps and Other Devices (Protocol II) and to the Convention on the Prohibition of the Use, Stockpiling, Production and Transfer of Anti-Personnel Mines and on Their Destruction.
  
  
• LMAC ceased all mine action activities based on the 2005-2009 Long Term Plan (LTP) to concentrate on cluster munitions and UXO clearance after the 2006 conflict.
  
  
• Overall cluster munitions clearance in Lebanon totalled more than 120,000 cluster bomblets being cleared with over 50% of the clearance being done with national assets and the remainder through UNMAS or bilateral agreements. Generous donor support will allow for all cluster munitions from the 2006 conflict to be cleared by end of 2007. In addition, the UAE is providing the funding necessary to clear the remaining Israeli landmines in southern Lebanon left after the 2000 withdrawal of Israeli forces.
  
  
• The LMAC, UNRWA and MAG have issued plans for the clearance of UXO and possible IEDs in the Nahr Bared Camp in northern Lebanon. MAG will conduct clearance inside the area known as the 'Old Camp' and the LAF Engineer Regiment will clear all remaining areas. The LMAC will coordinate both activities.
  
  
• Through MRE and clearance, post-war mine victims were reduced by over 15 fold over six months. It is estimated that the initial MRE multi-media campaign after the conflict, conducted with support of the National Steering Committee for MRE and UNICEF, reached over one million people.
  
  
• The Lebanese Mine Action Authority has made the decision to take full national ownership of mine action management in Lebanon by the end of 2007; this will include an independent quality management system and national operations centre for mine clearance.
  
  
• Lebanon issued a new Long Term Plan (2008-2012) to reflect the 2006 conflict and clearance scheduled for 2007. The 2008-2012 period will focus on mitigating 100% of all high and medium impacted communities indicated in the 2003 LIS.

Somalia

• Mr. David Bax arrived with the responsibility for the Mine Action component of the Rule of Law Program in UNDP Somalia on June 1. This was followed shortly thereafter by an interagency Mine Action Assessment of mine UXO contamination in South Central Somalia. The assessment included representatives of UNMAS, UNDP, UNHCR and UNOPS.
  
  
• The mission spent a week in Nairobi and South Central Somalia and found an immediate necessity to implement a mine action capacity development program in South Central Somalia as well as found an immediate emergency response was needed to address the mine action responsibilities that are not being currently addressed. UNMAS and UNDP will coordinate a response together with other Agencies to coordinate this response under the ROLS umbrella.
  
  
• There is a critical requirement for resources to be made available for the implementation of this program by donors. The funding through donor support will enable functions such as beginning the destruction of stockpiles of weapons, ERW and mines held by the African Union and in centralized stockpiles to be undertaken. In addition, comprehensive support to humanitarian interventions, currently stalled, can be implemented.
  
  
• Despite the resource shortages noted above, the establishment of the South Central Mine Action Centre (SCMAC) to run in parallel with already existing Puntland Mine Action Centre (PMAC) and the Somaliland Mine action Centre (SMAC) will occur in the next quarter. These three entities will be coordinated under the UNDP Somalia Mine Action Coordination Centre SOMACC in lieu of a National Structure for the entire country.
  
  
• The last two quarters of 2007 will see support to the SMAC and PMAC continuing and capacity established in South Central Somalia.

Sudan

• With management, technical, logistics, administrative and financial support from UNDP, the head offices of the National Mine Action Centre (NMAC)-Khartoum and Southern Sudan Demining Commission (SSDC)-Juba, are now fully equipped, staffed and functional. These two offices are now actively engaged in coordination, planning, prioritization, resource allocation and supervision of mine action activities in their respective areas of jurisdiction.
  
  
• Three field offices of the NMAC in Kassala, Damzine, and Kadugly and three field offices of the SSDC in Yei, Malakal, and Wau are now fully equipped, staffed and actively engaged in the coordination, planning, prioritization, resource allocation and supervision of mine action activities in their respective areas of jurisdiction. These offices have also been established with management, technical, logistics, administrative and financial support from UNDP.
  
  
• The National Demining Teams completed verification and mine/UXO clearance of the Babanusa-Wau Railway Line. The underlying feature of this project is that it was managed entirely by the staff of the national authorities and was successfully completed without any accident or incident. Utilizing manual and mechanical mine/UXO clearance assets, the assessment, verification and clearance of this 446 kilometer-long railway line was completed in a record time of three months (10 March-15 June), and very low cost, in accordance with International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) and National Technical Standards and Guidelines (NTSGs). A total of 13 antipersonnel, three anti-tank/vehicle mines and approximately 35,000 pieces of various types of explosive devices/ammunitions were found and subsequently destroyed during the clearance operations. UNDP Sudan has also mobilized one million dollars from the United States Department of State to provide additional equipment and technical support to these teams for their future field deployment. The high-profile official completion and handover ceremony took place on 02 July in Babanusa Town. The event was widely covered on national TV and in national newspapers. This railway line is a strategic all-seasons route linking various key locations in the central and southern parts of the country. Its clearance and rehabilitation will play a vital role in the safe and smooth return of Internally displaced persons (IDPs)/refugees and the movement of the local population. In addition, this railway line will facilitate the movement of goods and supplies required for the reconstruction and development of various other parts of the country alongside the railway line.
  
  
• UNDP assisted the process of training needs assessment and nomination of the staff of NMAC and SSDC and preparation of a tailored training plan. Based on the results of the training needs assessment, Cranfield University will conduct three courses for the staff of NMAC and SSDC.
  
  
• UNDP organized and sponsored a special information management training course for eight staff members of the NMAA and SSDA between 8-12 April in collaboration with the UN Mine Action Office.
  
  
• Under Article 4 of the Mine Ban Treaty, the Republic of the Sudan destroyed 4,488 various types of stockpiled anti-personnel mines on 30 April in Al-sailt area, Khartoum-North. In addition to the Minister of Defence, a large number of senior government officials (civilian and military) attended the ceremony. The event was also attended by representatives of the UN Mine Action Office, embassies, national and international organizations, media. UNDP and UNMAO provided technical assistance and support to this process.

Yemen

• Phase II of UNDP support, which was amended to continue until July, will focus on strengthening the national capacity for mine action in Yemen. At the end of July, YEMAC and UNDP will enter into Phase III of the project at which point UNDP's support will primarily focus on resource mobilization, procurement and financial management, as is required by the project. UNDP will also focus on areas of strategic concern with the goal of ensuring that an effective and sustainable residual national mine action capacity is in place after 2009 to deal with the remaining landmine problem. International support will be available to this phase of the project if it is required.
  
  
• By May, almost 7,857,250 square meters of contaminated land was cleared, of which minefields made up 7,083,554 square meters. Mine and UXO Clearance as of the end of May included 29,928 mines and UXO located and destroyed.
  
  
• A strategic plan for the years 2007-2009 has been approved by NMAC.
  
  
• A "re-survey" in the Hadramawt region which makes up 42% of the total suspected hazard area contamination in Yemen, according to the LIS survey, was prepared, resulting in a reduction of the area defined as contaminated. Previously, 391, 616,000 square miles were considered to be contaminated but now, thanks to the re-survey, that number has been reduced to 22,800,000 square miles. Currently, Yemen is in the process of performing the Level II Technical Survey in Hadramawt. The Level II survey has been particularly useful as it combines general, technical, and impact survey methodology resulting in both a reduction of the land area defined as contaminated while gathering important socio-economic data from communities.

Europe and the CIS

Albania

Key Achievements

• UNDP completed the implementation of Completion Project co-financed by the EC in support activities in four components: clearance, MRE, victim assistance and overall coordination & monitoring.
  
  
• The demining organization DCA continues working with six local demining teams on clearance activities with funding from the U.S. Department of State through ITF. At the end of June, 48,829 square meters were cleared.
  
  
• On 4 April, International Mine Action Day was celebrated with a ceremony at the Military Cultural Center in Tirana with the participation of mine survivors, the Deputy Minister of Defence, UN Resident Coordinator, and international and national partners and donors.
  
  
• On 11-12 April, a workshop on Victim Assistance was held in Tirana with support from ITF. The workshop was attended by representatives from GICHD and ITF, the Austrian Government (as Co-Chair of the VA Standing Committee), different Albanian Ministries and donors.
  
  
• The GICHD Evaluation team visited Albania from 14-26 May to evaluate the Albanian Mine Action Programme and UNDP Capacity Building Projects for coordination & monitoring and for local clearance capacity. One additional mission from GICHD was held from 21-25 May to refine the Risk Management section of the National Mine Action Standards.
  
  
• On 23-25 May, AMAE attended the Meeting on Cluster Munitions in Lima on behalf of the Albanian Government.
  
  
• In June, medical equipment and supplies for 30 village nurses and physiotherapy equipment for the physiotherapists at Kukes and Bajram Curri Hospitals were provided with funding from the French Government.
  
  
• As of June 30, landmine survivors were treated at the Institute of Rehabilitation in Slovenia with funding from the U.S. Department of State though ITF.

Key challenges

• Ratification of National Mine Action Law by the Government.
  
  
• Have fully secured DCA clearance activities, where a shortfall of 523,000 USD is putting the continuity of clearance operations at risk.
  
  
• Have funding secured through UNICEF for the integration of MRE in extracurricula activities in school.

Key Objectives

• Maintain level zero of accidents in north-east Albania.
  
  
• Final review of National Mine Action Standards with GICHD Support and translation into Albanian language.
  
  
• Surgical equipment will be provided to the Kukes Regional hospital with funds from the U.S. Department of State through ITF.
  
  
• Construction of National Ortho-Prosthestic Center in Tirana, with an amount of $ 250,000 provided by the Albanian Government.
  
  
• Releasing 700,000 square meters land to the community of NE Albania by the end of 2007.
  

FUNDING UPDATE 2007

Programme donors for this year include the European Commission through UNDP, U.S. State Department through ITF, UNICEF, UNDP BCPR and ICRC.

ASIA

Cambodia

• The Socio-Economic Team of the CMAA has begun its programme of post-clearance monitoring, visiting over forty sites in three provinces since May. The unit intends to visit and assess between 80-120 sites during 2007, giving the sector its first overview of how well the decentralized planning process is working. Results of these missions will be incorporated into the database and made accessible to interested parties.
  
  
• Meetings of the Technical Reference Group for Information Management (TRG-IA) have been convened to discuss and approve the National Strategy for Information Management which was drafted by Australian Volunteers International (AVI) at the request of CMAA. All stakeholders were present to confirm their buy-in and willingness to take the necessary steps to prepare for the proposed overhaul in the Strategy, including preparing for the delivery of IMSVA v4. CMAA and GICHD have agreed on a joint planning mission in Cambodia in late August. AVI and NPA are the organizations which will be most directly involved in supporting the elements of the Strategy.
  
  
• UNDP is implementing its mine action project, "Clearing for Result," which has continued to attract new donors interested in its cost-effective, harmonized approach that addresses many of problems regularly highlighted in the sector in Cambodia. It supports the Regulation and Monitoring and the Socio-Economic Planning Clusters at the CMAA, with particular focus on QA capacities, CMAS development and Socio-Economic monitoring. This is in addition to funding substantial levels of mine clearance and surveying/marking/area reduction.
  
  
• UNDP will continue to support the Government-Donor coordination function in the sector through the Mine Action Technical Working Group.
  
  
• Casualties in the Q2 2007 dropped relative to the same period in 2006. A total of 98 casualties were reported during Q2, which represents a 34% decrease compared with last year. Of these casualties, 88% were male, 37% were children and approximately 55% were caused by UXO with 45% being caused by landmines. The total number of casualties during the first half of 2007 (208) is 30% less than during the same period in 2006.

3. Update from UNICEF

The following is a summary of key achievements, challenges, objectives and funding issues for UNICEF country programmes:

Angola

In Angola, UNICEF continues to provide both technical and financial support for local NGOs to implement field based mine risk education (MRE) in the most mine affected provinces. During this reporting period, UNICEF supported MRE projects in Huila, Malange, Moxico and Lunda Norte provinces. In the next quarter, the MRE project will be expanded to Uige.

Approximately 35 MRE mini-instructors from across Huila province and 15 government representatives from Huila province gathered in Quipungo municipality to participate in a mini-instructors' workshop organised by UNICEF's partner NGO 'Club de Jovens.' Mini-instructors are elementary school students who volunteer to teach MRE messages in their schools and communities. Based on information and data collected during the workshop, a manual was drafted to create and support MRE mini-instructors. The finalised manuals will be distributed among school teachers and other youth leaders so that mini-instructors can be trained by school teachers in addition to MRE NGOs. Currently, UNICEF supports training MRE mini-instructors projects in Uige, Huila, Moxico and Lunda Norte provinces.

UNICEF's Education Section is producing manuals for life skills education for out-of-school youth. A chapter has been designed on MRE and has been integrated into the trainer's manual together with HIV/AIDS prevention, human rights, conflict resolution and other subjects. This manual will be used by readers/facilitators through networks of the Catholic and Methodist Churches, National Youth Council (CNJ), and civil society organisations. About 3,000 copies will be printed and facilitators representing these organisations will be trained on how to utilise the manual to teach out-of-school youth.

UNICEF, together with the Mine Victim Assistance Unit of the National Commission for Demining and Humanitarian Assistance (CNIDAH), is designing a "Handbook for People with Disability," including mine victims. This handbook will have useful information that people with disabilities, especially mine victims, as well as rights and entitlements guaranteed through Angolan law. This handbook will be distributed among mine victims, mine action NGOs, core ministries such as the Ministry of Social Welfare, the Ministry of Health, the Institute of Children, and the Ministry of the Interior in all 18 provinces.

UNICEF received 10,000 USD from CNIDAH to implement UNICEF Angola's MRE Annual Work Plan. This decision was made by CNIDAH to strengthen UNICEF-CNIDAH collaboration and commitment to work together to reduce the numbers of mine accidents as much as possible through MRE.

UNICEF's mine action programme is currently supported by contributions from the Government of Australia, CIDA, and the UNICEF National Committee for Canada.

Bosnia and Herzegovina

In the period from January to April, UNICEF Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH) continued to provide technical, financial and logistical support mainly to the BiH Mine Action Centre (BHMAC) and to implementing agencies involved in MRE and Landmine Victim Assistance (LMVA).

With UNICEF support in May, the BHMAC organised the MRE Quality Assurance (QA) Training, where 22 BHMAC managers were trained in Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) for QA in MRE activities and mechanisms of quality assurance.

In June, the SOP for QA was adopted by the BiH Demining Commission. Also in June, MRE QA Training for 29 managers from MRE organisations was organised by the BHMAC with the support of UNICEF.

Supported by UNICEF, an LMVA coordination meeting was held in June, where the BHMAC presented the mine victim database regarding cooperation and fundraising for the finalisation of the database.

The BHMAC continued with daily activities related to management, quality assurance of MRE in the country, preparing the documentation needed for the development of MRE plans, collecting and approving MRE plans as well as updating the MRE database. The BHMAC provided assistance to local and international mine action organisations and NGOs with analyses, recommendations and technical opinion on MRE and LMVA project implementation and proposals.

Cambodia

UNICEF is continuing to provide financial and technical support to the Mine Action sector for national MRE Coordination through the Cambodian Mine Action/Victim Assistance Authority, community-based Mine Risk Reduction, the mass media campaign through the Cambodia Mine Action Centre, and school MRE for children through the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport. Mine Risk Education materials are also provided to different MRE operators. Prostheses, wheelchairs and other mobility devices as well as assistance for rehabilitation to children and women victims of landmines/UXO and other causes of disabilities continued also with the support of UNICEF.

In June, 34 new victims were reported resulting from 21 mine/UXO accidents. This represents a decrease of 41% compared with the 58 victims reported in June 2006. Out of the 34, 16 victims were injured or killed by UXO accidents and 18 were victims of mine accidents. Nineteen were men, three were women and 12 were children. 73% had received MRE prior to the accidents and 47% were injured or killed while tampering with mines and UXO.

Chad

Mine/UXO Victim Information:

In 2007, the total number of casualties reported from January to July reached 145. This represents more than the total of all casualties for 2006.

• 83.4% out of the total number of casualties are children under 18 years.
• 98.6% are civilian.
• 99.3% were injured by UXO.
• 21.7% were killed.
• 80% out of the killed victims are children.

UNICEF continued its lead role for MRE providing coordination, technical, and financial support to the government's National High Commission for Demining (HCND). During the first half of the year, host communities, IDPs (20 areas), Sudanese refugees (12 camps) and refugees from the Central African Republic (3 camps) participated in MRE sessions. A total of three HCND MRE teams implemented MRE activities. Through other initiatives, UNICEF, in collaboration with the HCND, has launched campaigns on Mine Awareness to provide key awareness messages and information to large groups of people in a short time. This was necessary in eastern Chad due to accelerating military operations.

UNICEF supported MRE for vulnerable children such as those who were associated with armed forces and groups and affected by armed conflict, but also children in public and Koranic schools. A series of new MRE materials including one leaflet in French and Arabic and some audio spots were produced and distributed as part of this initiative. During May and June, MRE operators supported by UNICEF reached more than 15,000 persons.

In collaboration with the HCND and the Ministry of Education (MEN), UNICEF initiated a project for the integration of MRE into the school curricula. Through this initiative, a total of 5,000 future teachers have been trained and equipped with MRE materials (8 schools). With an aim to develop national capacity, it has been agreed that the HCND and the MEN will have the overall lead and responsibility for implementation and follow-up on this project, while the UN will provide technical and financial support. A kit of MRE materials (new picture box) has already been developed in close consultation with the HCND.

Iraq

The UNICEF MRE programme for 2007 continued to focus on reducing the impact of mines/ERW through strengthening national capacity to plan and manage MRE activities; promoting safe behaviour among populations and thereby reducing injuries and casualties; supporting a mechanism for a systematic victim surveillance system that leads towards comprehensive assistance to victims - advocating for and promoting their rights to adequate standards of living, health, non discrimination and access to basic services; and reviewing the existing MRE materials and preparing a generic package of MRE materials.

MRE in school, community capacity building, and direct MRE to high risk populations:

In partnership with INTERSOS, UNICEF is supporting the second phase of the integrated MRE project started in June. This project covers four contaminated governorates in southern Iraq (Basrah, Missan, Thi-Qar, and Muthana). The project is expected to: train 800 children in child-to-child skills for MRE; train 700 teachers; provide MRE to 160,000 schoolchildren; sensitise 50,000 at-risk populations through community-based MRE, emergency response, and mass media; and assist the Regional Mine Action Centre in data collection for victim surveillance.

UNICEF also supported a small scale project implemented by a local NGO in the north, covering 10 contaminated villages, reaching 400 children and 150 adolescents. A participatory approach with role-plays, story writing, and home-based activities was used to educate children on the risk of mines, ERW and promote safe behaviour.

Building national/institutional capacity:

The review of the coordination mechanism and action plan for better coordination with stakeholders and the National Mine Action Authority (NMAA) in 2006 laid a foundation and continued in 2007. As a result, MRE Coordination has now been expanded to include victim assistance, clearance and other issues. Regional Mine Action Centres are now coordinating on a monthly basis and are able to address the problems faced on MRE and other mine action related issues and find solutions at the regional levels.

UNICEF also supported MRE training for 40 social workers from Iraq as part of capacity building efforts. The social workers are from both north and the centre-south and are working with children in institutions and street, assisting them in psychosocial support and reintegration back to the family. In doing so, these social workers will also work with IDP children and families; therefore, their acquired knowledge on MRE will help at-risk populations to learn about the risk of mines and ERW during their move from one place to another.

Lao PDR

In the second quarter of 2007, UNICEF provided support through the UXO National Regulatory Authority (NRA) for a workshop on MRE messages and materials, focusing on gathering information on the following topics:

• Messages currently in use in Lao PDR
• Main target audience(s) for these messages
• Main forms of communication (mass media, small media, traditional media, person to person)
• Strengths and weaknesses
• Ideas to improve existing messages and communication methods
• How to better address the behaviour of High Risk Groups (people who tamper, people who work in the scrap metal trade) through MRE

The results of this workshop, as well as the Mines Advisory Group (MAG)-UNICEF UXO Risk Education Needs Assessment completed at the end of 2006, will be the core reference documents for the development of new MRE materials to be initiated in August with UNICEF support.

UNICEF also supported four persons from the UXO NRA to participate on a study trip to Cambodia. The group was particularly interested by the approaches to dealing with the scrap metal trade through a combination of MRE, regulation and implementation of the law and the different actors involved, including the police. It is envisioned that some of these good practices will be adapted to the Lao situation.

Nepal

Emergency Mine Risk Education

Forty-four new focal points have been trained by UNICEF and the Nepal Red Cross Society in emergency MRE and received the 'Emergency MRE kit.' The kit has been designed to conduct quick response MRE in the most at-risk areas. In total, 90 MRE focal points from more than 40 districts have been trained in emergency MRE. The network includes Army and Police staff, Red Cross volunteers, local UNICEF offices and NGOs. In relation to emergency MRE, 40,000 Aide Memoires have also been disseminated.

Mapping of most affected villages on the basis of victim-activated explosions

UNICEF completed the mapping of 58 (out of 75) districts affected by victim-activated explosions since 1 January 2005. This mapping includes the identification of a total of 152 'recently' affected Village Development Committees (out of 3,914) with the dates and number of casualties for each incident. Districts and villages have been ranked from the most affected to the least affected. The document is one of the key tools which allow Nepali mine action organisations to prioritize their activities. In the near future, with the collaboration of UNMIN, OCHA and armies, the mapping should also include locations of clash sites and minefields.

Improvised Explosive Device and Mine Safety Training for UNMIN Arms and Civilian Monitors

As part of their induction training programme, all UN Mission in Nepal (UNMIN) arms and civilian monitors receive a 90-minute safety briefing on IEDs, mines and ERW conducted by UNICEF. As of the end of June, more than 150 UN monitors benefited from this programme.

Coordination

In June, the Nepalese Army, the Armed Police Force, the Civil Police, the Maoist Army, and the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction have been invited to join the Mine Action Working Group. To date, the group has consisted of the UN, the Red Cross and international NGOs. This group has been providing surveillance, information, and advocacy with regard to mine action and victim assistance and has also come up with a coordinated response plan on emergency MRE.

Establishment of a National Mine Action Authority

UNICEF collaborated with the UNMIN Mine Action Unit and the Nepal Army for the sensitisation and the involvement of the Nepal Government in mine action. The Government will establish a mine action authority, consisting of an inter-ministerial Steering Committee with policy responsibilities and an implementing Technical Committee - both under the stewardship of the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction.

Somalia

The number of accidents involving children and UXO taking place in and around Mogadishu has sharply increased in the past two months since the bombardment of the capital (including many civilian and residential areas) earlier this year by the Transitional Federal Government (TFG) forces and their Ethiopian allies. The most recent incident, on 6 July, involved an unspecified ERW which killed eight people, including five children, and injured several others.

This extremely grave situation is proving difficult to respond to given the continued instability in Mogadishu and the absence of international staff from all agencies. A recent UNMAS assessment was conducted in Mogadishu and long-term planning is now in place for the establishment of a Mine Action Centre in Southern Somalia. However, more immediate action needs to be taken in the coming weeks and months, and currently the Danish Demining Group is proposing a rapid six-month intervention.

UNICEF is running MRE spots on a radio station with coverage across Mogadishu and beyond. These have been running several times a day for two months. In mid-July, community-based child protection advocates (CPAs), including those from South Somalia, will be trained on MRE by Handicap International. Materials are being provided for MRE campaigns in Mogadishu by UNESCO. The CPAs will be deployed across Mogadishu to try to ensure that MRE messages reach communities most at risk. Messages are also under preparation for school clubs.

Vietnam

For the period May to June, UNICEF supported MRE through mass media, community-based activities and built capacity of the project counterparts in basic MRE and relevant topics. At the local level, a series of TV and radio programmes were developed and broadcasted through local channels in Thua Thien Hue and Quang Tri provinces in the national and local languages.

At the central level, representatives of UNICEF's counterparts, including provincial radio and television, were trained in the development of good quality mass media products for MRE. In addition, in terms of MRE, adults and children in some highly affected areas of six Central Region provinces received information about UXO/mine risks and preventive measures through educational performances made by 60 children and youth communication teams on a weekly and monthly basis. Moreover, core trainers at the Ministry of Education and Training were trained to guide other teachers in mainstreaming MRE in the primary school curriculum. As a result, 70 core teachers in Quang Binh province were trained to pilot MRE in their schools.

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¹ LMAC is the new name for the National Demining Office-NDO