South Sudan: UK announces $2.5m for mine clearance

February 24, 2024 (JUBA) – The United Kingdom said it will, through its flagship Global Mine Action Programme, contribute $2.65 million to help Mines Advisory Group (MAG) clear land for resettlement and agriculture in South Sudan.

Mines and Bomb/Cluster munition remnants present a key challenge to South Sudan’s reconstruction efforts, with an estimated 1,400 people reportedly killed and over 3,800 injured by mines and explosive remnants of war since 2004.

Currently, it is estimated that 16.8km² of contaminated land still exists across South Sudan, threatening lives, curtailing freedom of movement and access to arable land, while disenfranchising communities and above all instilling fear and insecurity for decades after the end of conflict.

However, in a context of high humanitarian need in South Sudan – where 9 million people, more than 70 percent of the population, need some form of assistance – access to safe land, free from mines and explosive remnants of war is vital.

Land clearance has a number of benefits: reducing risks of injury and death; boosting agricultural livelihoods; mitigating food insecurity and resource scarcity; contributing to social cohesion; and increasing access to basic services.

With UK funding, MAG will deliver minefield clearance, battle area clearance and risk education in these areas, focusing on the highway between Juba and Nimule to support the growth of trade and free movement between the two areas.

The UK funding will reportedly also contribute to enhancing the capacity of the National Mine Action Authority (NMAA) in South Sudan by supporting MAG’s capacity building initiatives such as secondment of NMAA staff to MAG demining teams and sending staff on advanced international trainings on Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD).

Since April 2022, MAG’s UK-funded demining team has cleared over 215,000m² of land in Magwi county of Eastern Equatoria State, removing and destroying 400 sub-munitions and conducting 24 EOD spot tasks following reports from community members.In 2023 MAG cleared over 2.2m² of contaminated land, destroying over 1,200 landmines and unexploded bombs. MAG also delivered 2,495 Explosive Ordnance Risk Education sessions to over 46,000 beneficiaries.

(ST)