Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

Volume 6 Issue 1 The Journal of Mine Action Article 3

April 2002

Mine Action Program for Somalia

Jab Swart

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Recommended Citation Swart, Jab (2002) "Mine Action Program for Somalia," Journal of Mine Action : Vol. 6 : Iss. 1 , Article 3. Available at: https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/cisr-journal/vol6/iss1/3

This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Center for International Stabilization and Recovery at JMU Scholarly Commons. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction by an authorized editor of JMU Scholarly Commons. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Swart: Mine Action Program for Somalia

some defensive mine fields were also laid malia Transitional National Government chological problems and general lack of along the central and south Somalia bor­ (TNG) in Mogadishu subscribe to rhe security of communities. ln 2000, the The Mine Action ders with Ethiopia, most of the mining requirements of the Treaty. reported mine victims were 107 in the rook place during the counterinsurgency A major problem is that the location norrhwesr, 101 in the northeast, 147 in wars by the Siad Barre regime from 1981 and extent of mined areas are largely un­ central Somalia and approximately 40 in to 1991 and rhe subsequent clan conflicts. known, and therefore the magnitude of Mogadishu, of which roughly 40 percenr Program for Somalia The regions most severely affected were the problem to be contained has nor been resulted in fatalities. These figures are by Galgadud, Hi ran, Bay, Bakool and Lower accurately determined. A limited mine no means complete, as the reporting sys­ IS Juba. Defensive mine fields were laid action information system currenrly ex­ tem is very fragrnenred. The presence of around strategically important towns and ists (in northwest Somalia), and although mines has prevented the return of ap­ Aiming to set up a sustainable institution for resolving Somalia's mine military bases (such as Beier Weyne and some Level One and Two Surveys and proximately 200,000 refugees from problem and to provide direct support for mine action activities there, the Huddur), while mines were used exten­ C lea rance have been conducted by several Djibouti and Ethiopia. T he United Nations United Nations Mine Action Program for Somalia is making a difference in sively for route denial between Gal kayo, international non-governmental organi­ High Commissioner for Re fugees a country ravaged by years of conflict. Beier Weyne, Baidoa and Mogadishu. zations (lNGOs) and the UNDP, the (UNH CR) had anticipated closing these The Rahanwein Resistance Army makes results of these actions are inadequate for camps by 200 I but has continually fallen by Jab Swart, UN MA is implemented through inrerventions in no secret of the fact that they are still use as a basis for furure mine action plan­ short of rheir targets, in large parr because Manager Somalia three broad program areas: mining the road between Baidoa and ning. On the positive side, four credible of mine fi elds-real or perceived. The • Peace and security, including civil Mogadishu to discourage rhe perceived INGOs, Danish D emining Group mine/UXO threat is a finite problem, how­ Introduction protection threat from Mogadishu. Before 1993, (DDG), The HALO Trust, Mines Advi­ ever, and given sus rained stability and fund­ • Capaciry building for governance very little mining rook place in the sory Group (MAG) and Saim Barbara ing, ir can be solved within seven ro 10 years. Following years of devastation • Economic recovery and poverty Mogadishu area. Since then, mines have Foundation (SBF) are involved in mine caused by civil war, clan conflict and reduction been used extensively in ambushes against action activities in northwest Somalia Mine Action Activities power struggles, large areas of Somalia The Somali Civil Protection Pro­ American forces, in strategic protection and, contingent on available funding, have regained a measure of peace and gram (SCPP) aims w consolidate and of areas such as the airport and seaport, plan to expand to other regions. How­ UN Capacity Building securiry and begun w move towards re­ reinforce rhe still fragile peace and enhance as well as in defensive mine fi elds between ever, Somalia still lacks an overall coher­ The progress of project activities in covery. The experience of norrhwesr and economic and social recovery, by establish­ warring clans. Warlords in Mogadishu are ent, coordinated mine action database northwest and northeast Somalia has norrheast Somalia in particular has shown ing a secure enabling environment. This reportedly still engaging in mining in and and cannot yet effectively prioritize and taken a very importanr step towards sus­ securiry and restoration of law and order will be achieved through the SCPP's program around Mogadishu, and they supposedly coordinate mine action. This is the most tainable Somali mine action capacities. as essential w rhe creation of an enabling activities in five project are-..LS: terrirory ro deter incursions, and rhe So­ have received large consignments of urgent need at present, particularly as The activities focused in d1e areas of srren grh­ environment fo r the advance towards eco­ • Social mobilization mali Army laid additional mine fields mines as recently as last year.ln the south, acriviries increase throughout the terri­ ening local mine action management nomic and social recovery, and in many • Disarmamenr, demobilization and throughout the terrirory in places ofs tra­ mines were ex tensively used in inter-clan tory. Effective institutions to coordinate structures and institutional capacity for areas, credible authorities have emerged. reinregrarion of former militia tegic importance. When civil war broke fighting. Defensive mine fields were laid mine action are also needed for long-rerm mine field survey, marking and database, However, Somalia is still a divided coun­ • Small arms control out in 1988, the Army heavily mined all around Kismayo and Bardhere, while sustainability. UNDP Somalia mine ac­ mine clearance, mine awareness and vic- · t ry, and in some instances, such as • Rule of Law its defensive positions and around mili­ mines were used extensively for route denial tion arranged a workshop in January rim assista nce. C lose cooperation with · Mogadishu, even single cities are ruled • Mine Action tary camps. Both the resistance movements between Kismayo and Mogadishu and 2002 to formulate a strategic mine action mine clearance organizations and im­ from Kismayo up rhe Juba Valley to Luuq. by up to four different authorities. The For the purpose of post-conflict re­ and the government mined roads and plan for northwest Somalia and priori­ proved coordination among them were end of conflict in these areas has, how­ covery and development and in rhis case, paths used by one or the other, and mines Items ofUXO continue to contami­ tize mine action activities based on successfully achieved. ever, not eliminated continued threats ro Mine Action Somalia is divided into four were used randomly to terrorize the no­ nate Somalia, including Soviet missi les, existing information. in addition ro this, The mine action component of the security. T he lack of resources ro re-es­ regions, namely northwest (Somaliland), mad and rural populations. Since 1991, explosives and bunkers filled with a vari­ UNDP mobilized resources for a com­ SCPP has been operational since 1998. tablish peace and securiry is often reflected northeast (Punrland), central and sourh some additional mines (mostly in rhe ety of bombs, missiles and warheads in prehensive Landmine Impact Survey Until the end of 1999, rhe componenr in continuing instability, and while basic Somalia. The UNDP Mine Action Pro­ form of AP nuisance mine fields) have former military bases, battle areas and (U S) in Somali a, during 2002. This sur­ was directly involved in demining sub­ rules of law are being established by the gram for Somali a (UNMA) is in effect been placed in rowns where localized con­ most urban areas. The towns mostly af~ vey will also assess and analyze the contracts in Burao (northwest Somalia), em erging adm in isrrations, their actual managing four separate projects, with an Aicts have erupted. fected are those where the heaviest fight­ socio-economic impact of the mine/ and approximately 400,000 square capabilities remain limited. Large num­ additional fifth sub-project in Mogadishu ln the northwest, the most heavily ing rook place, namely Berbera, Hargeisa UXO contamination on a village-to-vil­ meters were cleared. Since December bers of landmines deployed during the ro provide for the opposing factions rhere. mined areas were around Zeyla, Berbera, and Burao in the northwest; Bossaso and lage basis. This information, in turn, will 1999, the focus shifted ro capaciry build­ confli cts of rhe past two decades pose se­ Hargeisa and Burao. Now most of the Galkayo in rhe northeast; Beier Weyne be utilized ro update rhe mine action pri­ ing. A fully functional Somaliland Mine rious rh rears ro people and their Iivesro ck The MinefUXO Problem mines in Hargeisa and Burao have been and Huddur in central Somalia; and orities in the region. Action Center (SMAC) has been estab­ and limit access ro val uable resources. removed. In addition to rhis, most of the Mogadishu and Kismayo in the south. The signiflcanr negative socio-eco­ lished in northwest Somalia, including an The United Natio ns Development Mines were first laid in significant roads between major towns were mined, In addition, stockpiles of mines remain nomic impact of landmine and UXO external qualiry control system and an Program (UNDP) strategy for rhe Soma­ numbers in 1966, during the conflicts but the Hargeisa-Berbera-Burao road has (also in private hands), and the Somali comaminarion can be seen in almost ev­ Information Management System for lia program is based on an integrated and with Ethiopia primarily along the border now been cleared. Most of the mine fields authorities have requested assistance in ery aspect ofSomali sociery: reduced land Mine Action (IMSMA), with the support coordinated approach aimed at bridging (mostly as barri er AT mine fields), and along the Ethiopian border are still in place. addressing this si tuation. Because it is not available for livestock and cultivation, of an expert provided by the Swiss gov­ the gap between relief and development then again between 1977 and 1978. With ln northeast Somalia, mines are a recognized state, Somalia cannot be a increased transportation costs, obstacles ernment. The 22 people who make up and fostering an enabling environment rhe rise of resistance movements and civil mostly concentrated along the Ethiopian signatory ro rhe Ottawa Convention, but ro repatriation and re-integration of com­ the staff of rhe SMAC have been fully for sustainable human security and de­ conflicts, in the early 1980s, these mine border and along the inter-clan conAict authorities such as those in northwest munities, poor performance of rehabili­ trained to execute their responsibilities velopment. The UNDP counrry program fields were expanded further inro Somali line running through Galkayo. Although Somalia, northeast Somalia and the So- tation efforts, loss oflives, disability, psy- with very little supervision. The training • 8 • • 9 • Published by JMU Scholarly Commons, 2002 1 Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction, Vol. 6, Iss. 1 [2002], Art. 3

included formal tra1n111g in demining, Regional Conference on Landmines in ity is the Galbeed and western Togdheer successful. The rota! area cleared was • Strengthening Management Struc­ • Assisting in the establishment of supervision and data management. The Djibouti. The northeast Somalia Admin­ regions of northwest Somalia, especially I 05,000 square meters, and large num­ tures and Institutional Arrangements interdepartmental commissions respon­ Mine Action Advisers also undertook on­ istration has already ratified this plan. the area defined by the Hargeisa-Berbera­ bers of mines and UXO were eliminated. • Mine Field Survey, Marking and sible for making and reviewing mine ac­ the-job training in general, personnel, Two management-level staff mem­ Burao triangle, and south of rhis to the The number of staff deployed was 115. Database tion pol icy and priorities for mine action logistics a nd financial management. be rs of the program attended the Ethiopian border. DOG finished clear­ In 2002, SBF plans to expand its activi­ • Mine Clearance acn vmes. SMAC conducted extend quality man­ two-month intensive mine action man­ ing mine fields in the Adadley and ties further into the Togdheer region, es­ • Mine Risk Education • Providing advocacy for the adher­ agement and certified 35 areas cleared in agers course at C ranfield University in the Hargeisa areas and are currently working pecially towards the Ethiopian border. • Victim Assistance ence to international mine ban treaties. norrhwest Somalia by international United Kingdom. The regional structures in conventional mine fi elds in Bali The HALO Trust has now been • Providing basic office equipment demining organizations, namely DOG, for mine action are now totally supported Gubadle, Dhubato and at Hargeisa Air­ demining in Somaliland for over two Institutional and Management to national Mine Action authorities and The HALO Trust, Mine-Tech and SBF. by the project. An exit policy that will pore. T hey have also been heavily involved years, carrying our humanirarian mine Capacity further assistance for electricity, office and As a result, almost 30 million square shift all the capacity to local authorities in EU-funded road rehabilitations and UXO clearance. Around 250 local The UN Mine Action Program for operating expenses. and two international staff are currently Somalia is executed by the United Na­ meters of land were released to commu­ is under discussion. projects, where they surveyed and cleared • Assisting in the establishment and nities in northwest Somalia through Mine Action is closely coordinated bridges and culvertS for rehabilitation. At employed around the region, but mainly tions Office of Project Services maintenance of MACs in the four re­ survey and clearance. It is expected that with other agencies and international or­ present, DOG is clearing the important on border mine fields in the northwest (UNOPS). A Mine Action Manager gions, consisting of information, opera­ and battle area clearance tasks in and (MAM) heads the Mine Action Project. the SMAC will be subcontracted to the ganizations. SCPP-MA's establishment of road between Adadley and Mandhera. tions, standards and training and adminis­ nonhwest Somalia authorities in 2002. coordination mechanisms secured donor Northwest Somalia had a large contami­ around centers of population. To date a An international expert, the Mine Action trative cells and responsible for the coordi­ Elements of the Somaliland Police were confidence and funding of $4.5 mill ion nation of SA-2 and SS-21 missiles at six large number of AT and AP mines have Operational Adviser (MAOA), is respon ­ nation of all mine action activities, includ­ equipped and are currently undergoing (U.S.) in mine clearance activities annu­ sires in Berbera and Hargeisa, where been cleared, the most common types sible for operational technical assistance ing advocacy of mine ban treaties, sur­ explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) train­ ally in northwest Somalia. This initiative DOG disposed of more than 60 of these being TM 57 and P4. In addition to this, and directly supports the MAM. An in­ vey, clearance, quality management (QM), ing, which is presenred by MAG. has the potential to generate more than missiles. Another major task has been the thousands of UXO have been cleared, kind IMSMA Adviser, provided by the mine awareness and victim assistance. Following consultations in northeast $10 million for M ine Action in the whole reduction of the danger to the popula­ types ranging from grenades to rockets. Government of Switzerland, further en­ • Establishing Regional Mines Of­ Somalia, the Deparrmenr of Demining, of Somalia. Mine risk education (M RE) tion from UXO. The QRTs visited most In addition to manual demining, HALO hanced assistance to the capacity build­ fices in areas of high mine/UXO threat. Demobilization and Reinregration was and mine victim assistance are coordi­ vil lages in their area of responsibility sev­ also operates with a mine detection dog ing ofiMSMA. • Providing technical assistance, identified as SCPP's mine action coun­ nated through the Mine Action Centers eral times and collected or destroyed all team (for about three months a year) and equipping, training and operational sup­ terpart. A core Punrland Mine Action (MACs) with SCPP-MA assistance, but known threats. They have also conducted an EOD/Survey Team. Collectively, all Strengthening Management port for the above. Cemer (PM AC) was established in north­ the focal points for execution in the regular battle area clearance in areas of the above have cleared almost 25 mil­ Structures and Institutional east Somalia and the Somali Civil Pro­ United Nations are the United Nations heavily contaminated by UXO. These lion square meters, contributing to rhe Arrangements Mine Field Survey, Marking and tection Program Mine Action Program International Children's Emergency Fund areas are normally abandoned military return and resettlement of thousands of Management structures and i nstitu­ Database (SCPP-MA) provided the necessary tech­ (UNICEF) and the World Health Orga­ installations. In 2002, DOG will conduct refugees from Ethiopia. In the nea r fu­ tional arrangements are strengthened in The use of surveys, marking and nical and management training. The nization (WHO), respectively. Until these the Land mine 1mpa ct Survey (US) of ture, HALO will introduce mechanical order to ensure that the mine action pro­ databases is necessary to determine the PMAC staff underwenr training in tech­ capabilities are ful ly developed within northwest Somalia on contract from rhe mine clearance and area reduction capa­ gram is executed in a coordinated and extent of the problem, plan and conduct nical demining, general managemenr and those agencies, SCPP-MA embarks on Survey Action Center, as Phase I of the bilities, with equipment currently being efficient manner in support of the clearance according ro priority areas, sup­ prepared in the United Kingdom. An­ database management. limited assistance in this regard. In this complete Somalia survey. national development plan, including ac­ port development and humanitarian tasks other Battle Area Clearance (BAC) Team tivities of implementing partners. This Consultations with the authorities to respect SCPP-MA recently completed a SBF has been active in northwest and to determine exact locations of con­ will be added and operations will move will result in national Mine Action insti­ taminated areas and mark them. Cleared extend the Mine Action program to central mine awareness program in the Somali Somalia since the autumn of 1999, but and south Somalia were quite successful. refugee camps in Djibouti, with full co­ real mine action activities only com­ south and east, as current tasks are com­ tutions capable of planning, prioritizing, areas are certified, and maps/databases The TNG is currently reviewi ng the draft operation of UNTCEF, UNHCR, the menced in 2000. T hese activities consist pleted and new priorities identified. The managing and coordinating the national updated. Local authorities and inhabit­ Mine Action policy provided by SCPP­ World Food Program (WFP) and Handi­ of survey, manual demining, discovery main donors supporting HALO in nonh­ Mine Action Program. The basis of any ants are notified ofcl eared areas and those MA, and UNDP Somalia gave the go­ cap International (HI). UNICEF has with detectors and mine detection dogs, wesr Somalia are the United States and Mine Action activity, specifically survey that still pose a threat. No coherent Mine the Netherlands. and prioritization, is a sound national al1ead to establish a Mogadishu Mine Action now created a focal poim for MRE in EOD activities and MRE. The police in Action program can be executed if it is Office. A Mine Action Office was planned northwest Somalia, as a pilot project for Burao were trained in basic EOD knowl­ policy. Authorities are assisted to prop­ nor based on rhe processed data ofa com­ and will be established in Baidoa soon. the rest of Somalia, and established a edge. In 2000, SBF clea red fa rmland in Mine Action Strategy erly supporr Mine Action policy in So­ prehensive National Landmine Impact SCPP-MA assisted the authorities in working group for MRE. An MRE strat­ the Gabiley-East district by manual malia. An interdepartmental commission Survey (NIS), which will assist the au­ northwest Somalia and nonheast Soma­ egy was presented to the northwest demining supported by mine detection T he vision ofUNDP Somalia Mine for Mine Action is established and sup­ thorities to formulate meaningful priori­ lia in drawing up mine action policies, Somalia authorities for approval. dogs. The cleared area was 65,000 square Action is to render Somalia free from the ported in every region to confirm and ties for Mine Action. Mine Action data, which are currently being debated in the meters, and a highly motivated ream of effect of mines and UXO in seven to I 0 review Mine Action policy and priorities if not related to socio-economic data, is Somaliland parliament and were already Demining 40 deminers destroyed scores of mines years, depending on stability in all the at least every quarter. Information, execu­ of little use in determining Mine Action ratified in Punrland. SMAC was assisted DOG has been running mine clear­ and UXO without any accidents. In regions and sustained levels of funding. tion and Mine Action standards a re priorities. In this respect, the following in formulating and distributing Standard ance operations in northwest Somalia 2001, the Foundation extended their en­ Its mission is to establish and maintain a coordinated from central institutions. In objectives are pursued: Operating Procedures for Mine Action since June 1998 and currently comprises gagement in northwest Somalia, by clear­ sustainable National Mine Action capac­ this case, UNDP supports the capacity • Recruitment and training of in northwest Somalia. SCPP-MA advised three demining teams of 24 deminers ing the mine field around the Gabiley ity in Somalia by December 2004. In building and technical assistance of re­ lMSMA personnel in the MACs. the authorities on the principles of the each, three mine detection dog teams, military base and all mined areas in Burao order to accomplish this goal, UNDP gional MACs. The following specific ac­ • Establishment of an IMSMA da­ Ottawa Treaty, formulated a work plan each with two dogs and one expatriate city. It was very challenging tasks, which Somalia Mine Action is implementing a tions are undertaken: tabase in the MACs. strategy comprised of the following: for northwest and northeast Somalia to dog handler, and for Survey and EOD SBF executed with distinction. Employ­ • Assisting authorities in the four • Execution of a comprehensive NIS. implement the international ban on AP tasks, rwo quick response teams (QRTs) ing mine detection dogs in connection • Institutional and Management major regions of Somalia in formulating This process is planned and coordinated landmines, and presented the plan at the are deployed. DOG's area of responsibil- with manual demining was again very Capacity and promulgating mine action policies. by the Survey Action Center (SAC). SAC • 10 • • II • https://commons.lib.jmu.edu/cisr-journal/vol6/iss1/3 2 Swart: Mine Action Program for Somalia

has already conducted an advance assess­ and strengthening mine victim treatment ment mission for a coumrywide N IS of The scope, target groups and cover­ centers. Somalia and the first phase, the survey of age of MR.£ in Somalia will be expanded • Improving the efficiency and effec­ Ethiopia and Eritrea Mine northwest Somalia, has been funded and to cover all the mine-affected areas and tiveness of the overall mine action program will commence in April 2002, conducted populations. In particular, mine aware­ within the country. • Increasing the level of donor con­ byDDG. ness policies are established, and plans are fidence. Action Coordination • Collection and collation of data. formulated and implemented in coopera­ • Compilation and distribution of tion with UNICEF, NGOsand authorities. T hese measures will in turn result in: data to all clients, including other depart­ • Quicker clearance of contaminated ments and humanitarian organizations. Victim Assistance areas resulting in reduced deaths and in­ Center: UNMEE-MAcc Training local professionals, coordi­ juries and appropriate medical care for luting existing resources and acquiring mine victims. Mine CLearance The United Nations Mission in Ethiopia and Eritrea, along with eight other • Released land for resettlement of The physical detection and des truc­ additional resources are required. In par­ local NGOs, are working to rid their lands of the mixture of AT and AP mines ti cular, victim assistance policies are es­ displaced persons and returning refugees tion of mines and UXO are carried our laid in conventional military patterns during conflicts dated back to 1935. in accordance with national priorities and tablished and plans formulated and and for agricultural development. Recon­ rhe International Standards on Humani­ implemented in cooperation with WHO, struction and rehabilitation of public in­ By Bob Kudyba, United in Algiers on 18 June tarian Mine C learance Operations. The NGOs and authorities. frastructure including schools, roads, Nations Mission in Ethiopia 2000, provided for an UN MA program includes ensuring that bridges and commercial and industrial and Eritrea Mine Action immediate cessation of deminers are provided the necessary train­ Conclusion enterprises will also be accelerated. While it is nor expected that Soma­ Coordination Center all armed and air at­ ing and equipmem to conduct clearance tacks and requested the operations in an efficient and safe man­ Ar the end of the project, 1t IS ex­ lia will be totally free of mines within the Ba ckground assistance of rhe UN ner. UNDP does not conduct clearance pected that an appropriate mine action duration of the project, the objective is and the Organization of operations itself, bur assists in the capac­ strategy and policy based on thorough to set a sustainable institution for resolv­ The conflict between Eritrea and African Union (OAU) ity building of national mechanisms to consultation will be in place and the fo l­ ing the mine problem in place and to Ethiopia can be traced back ro before the in its implementation. coordinate all Mine Action activities, lowing will have been achieved: provide direct support for mine action period of Italian colonization, which In particular, the parties including survey and clearance by irs in­ • Strengthening appropriate institu­ activities. Regional administrations have called on the UN to ternational partners. Furthermore, the tional management, financial and al ready taken important sreps toward that commenced in 1935. Many attempts to secure an independent Eritrea finally suc­ deploy a peacekeeping UNDP ensures that the national authori ­ administrative mechanisms, which will end, and rhis project will result in con­ ceeded in 1993. when Eritrea gained for­ mission under the aus­ ties develop capacities ro deal with UXO allow Somalis to effectively manage, siderable further advances. Nonetheless, mal independence from Ethiopia. How­ pices of the OAU to and the residual mine/UXO threat after coordinate, oversee and support all com­ based on discussions with administrations ever, relations soured between the one­ monitor the cessation of the conclusion of the international Mine ponents of the mine action program in a and experience with mine action pro­ time allies when Eritrea introduced irs hostilities. Action program. UNDP Somalia MA ex­ transparent and responsive manner. grams in other countries, it is expected own currency (the Nakfa) in November This process is for ecutes rhe following additional activities: • Strengthening the process for that the local institutions involved will 1997, creating a trade war between the t he conti nuation of • Assisting in the establishment of elaborating National Mine Action Plans, require further assistance for several years two nations. proximity talks be­ sustainable EOD capabilities in the four including setting priorities. beyond the end of this project, including On May 13, 1998, Ethiopia's Par­ tween the two parries, leading to a com­ viding technical advice and coordination. • UNMEE Indian regions, ro deal with UXO and the re­ • Improving a sustainable mine both technical assistance and resources for mine action operations. • liament declared war on Eritrea. After the prehensive peace agreement on issues re­ The parties shall , as necessary, seek addi­ Battalion sidual mine threat after the inrernational clearance indigenous national capacity (INDBAT) 1998 fighting failed to ach ieve any clear lated to the final definition of the border tional demining assistance from the demining programs are concluded. that is competent in technical, adminis­ engineering advantage to either side, the Ethiopians between the rwo countries; the current Peacekeeping Mission." • Encouraging survey and clearance trative and policy matters and that will Contact Information platoon and Eritreans fell into a trench warfare border is the old Italian Colonial border. reconstruct the in areas where mining has come to an end require reduced external technical assis- access routes in Jab Swart, Manager siruation reminiscent ofWorld War I. In This undertaking has yet to be resolved, Landmine and and coordinating mechanisms have been tance in the future. · the region of order to reinforce this system of trench particularly the agreement on the final UXOSituation established. • Developing mine awareness policy UN MA Somalia Barentu. lines, extensive patterns of mines- both border definition and line. • Mobilizing resources for mine ac­ and expanding MR£ activities to addi­ Tel: +2528220069 AT and AP-were laid to strengthen and With respect to demining and mine In addition to the residual threats tion activities in cooperation with UNDP tional populations. E-mail: [email protected] reinforce the positions. As one side gained action activities, the agreement says," ... posed by landmines and UXO from old Somalia. • Developing victim assistance policy advantage and rook control of a trench both parties shall conduct demining as conflicts, the recent conflict between system, mines were laid on the opposite soon as possible with a view to creating Ethiopia and Eritrea ( 1998- 2000) poses side, creating a confusing array of defense the conditions necessary for the deploy­ a signiflcanr threat throughout the con­ systems. Shelling of targets by artillery ment of the Peacekeeping Mission, the flict area. T his threat is primarily confined and bombing attacks by aircraft contrib­ return of civilian administration and re­ to the "no man's land" that runs between uted to the problem with UXO littering turn of the population as well as the de­ the trenches along the confrontation lines the battlefields. In fact, some estimates limitation and demarcation of their com­ (May 1998 and May- June 2000). say that UXO outweigh the problem of mon border. The Peacekeeping Mission, These mine fields contain a mixture mines 15:1. in conjunction with the United Nations of AT and AP mines that are laid mainly The Agreement on the Cessation of Mine Action Service (UN MAS) will as­ in conventional military panerns. Addi­ Hostilities signed by Ethiopia and Eritrea sist the parties' demining efforts by pro- tionally, unmarked and unrecorded nui- • 12 • • 13 • Published by JMU Scholarly Commons, 2002 3