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FROM THE FIELD

MAG DRC : Latest update
11 Mar 2008 11:12:00 GMT
 Source: MAG (Mines Advisory Group)
Website: Website: http://www.maginternational.org

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SALW team working with the FARDC to prepare the transport of ammunition in collaboration with the FARDC, Gemena, Equateur Province.
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SALW team working with the FARDC to prepare the transport of ammunition in collaboration with the FARDC, Gemena, Equateur Province.

Background

•  Congo (DR) conflict

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SUMMARY (Reporting Period: 1-29 February 2008)

- Search and clearance of a total of 1,746 square metres of land through a combination of hand, electronic, and visual techniques.

- Removal and destruction of a total of 2,035 hazardous items, including 116 items of UXO and 1,919 items of small arms ammunition by the HMA teams.

- Destruction of 3,400 weapons and 4,047 items of small arms ammunition by the SALW teams.

- 109 Dangerous Areas identified.

- 98 MRE sessions conducted targeting 12,596 beneficiaries.

Impact Summary:

In Equateur province, clearance and community liaison activities in UNHCR transit camps and villages in the vicinities of Buburu and Imese allowed the safe return of thousands of refugees and eased their resettlement by clearing land for housing and agriculture. This will support the socio-economic rehabilitation of villages and eliminate potential sources of conflict linked to land scarcity.

In Katanga, clearance activities allowed the installation of the main electricity line from Zambia to Pweto and contributed to improved living conditions for communities living in what was a front line in the Second Congo War. Moreover, to support the development of a national HMA capacity, an EOD Level 1 training course is being developed. It will be accredited by UNMACC and implemented throughout MAG DRC teams.

SALW activities in Nord Ubangi were completed this month and an SALW team deployed temporarily from Katanga to Goma to conduct the emergency destruction of ammunition stockpiles with the aim of preventing another incident such as Camp Ngashi.

ACTIVITIES

Equateur

The UN Pooled Fund-sponsored emergency HMA response finished mid-February, with the completion of the combined Community Liaison/clearance deployment to the Buburu/Imese area. This deployment focused on giving MRE to returnees in collaboration with UNHCR and clearing areas essential for resettlement such as roads, land for housing and agricultural land. In total during this deployment, 17 MRE sessions were given to 8,346 beneficiaries and 35 items of unexploded ordnance and 920 other miscellaneous items were removed while clearing 950 squared meters of land. This month also saw the start of a project for the clearance of UXO from Mbandaka harbour. Scheduled to run for three months, this project will allow the redevelopment of the facility and improvements to the port will directly support the development of commercial activities in one of DRC's poorest province.

Katanga

DFID and Dutch government-funded clearance and Community Liaison operations took place in 108 communities in the vicinities of Pepa, Kasenga and Lofwashi. The area around Lofwashi was a front line for six months in the Second Congo War and the remnants of the conflict continue to affect the local population. Clearance activities resulted in the clearance of 796 squared meters of land, and the removal of 81 UXO and 999 other miscellaneous items, thus improving access to 24 housing sites, 59 agricultural sites and one water source. Of particular interest was a US M67 grenade found and safely removed from a school play area in Kyemia. The clearance activities also allowed the installation of the main electricity line from Zambia to Pweto. The Community Liaison teams delivered 81 MRE sessions to a total of 4,250 people. An "antenne" (community volunteer) has been set up in Kyemia - the community volunteers are essential to ensure the continued dissemination of 'stay safe' messages to the local population and the flow of information between the villagers and MAG.flow of information between the villagers and MAG.flow of information between the villagers and MAG.flow of information between the villagers and MAG.

Small Arms and Light Weapons (SALW) Destruction Project

United States-funded weapons destruction at the Central Logistics Base in Kinshasa continued with a total of 3,400 weapons destroyed in February. Operations in Gemena, Libenge, Zongo, and Dongo, Nord Ubangi, 3rd Military Region (Equateur), have led to the destruction of 4,047 items of ammunition. This team has been repatriated to Kinshasa at the end of the month for an upcoming deployment to the 1st Military Region (Bandundu). Upon request from the Congolese authorities, and following an assessment mission by the Technical Operations Manager, the Katanga SALW team deployed to Goma for an emergency destruction operation. About 100 tons of ammunition were badly stored and presented a serious risk of explosion - this operation aims to prevent another incident such as Camp Ngashi. Finally, the Technical Operations Manager returned to the 2nd Military Region (Bas-Congo) for further survey of military weapon storage facilities in Kitona and Banana.

MAG would like to express its gratitude and many thanks to the following current donors to the Democratic Republic of Congo programme:

- Department for International Development (UK) - Pooled Fund - Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency - United States Department of State, Political Military Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement - Royal Government of the Netherlands (commenced January 2008)


[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

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[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]

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