E's Demining Trip to the South

Article: http://khartoum.usembassy.gov/de-mining_efforts_.html



(Right to left): Qadeem Tariq (United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Mine Action Senior Technical Advisor, Khartoum), Major Shakhawat (Commander of a UN Bangladeshi Demining Company), Col. Stu Harris, and E. (U.S. Embassy Khartoum) don protective gear before entering a minefield outside of Juba.


Col. Stu Harris (right) and E. (left) receive a briefing from Bangladeshi UN troops at a site of unexploded ordnance and explosive remnants of war near Juba.







U.S. helps in de-mining efforts in South Sudan

In a May 22 to 31 visit to Sudan, Colonel Stu Harris from the U.S. Department of State’s Office of Weapons Removal and Abatement, facilitated meetings with mine action leaders, met with Sudanese government officials, and assessed mine risk education and de-mining efforts in the field.

The Department of State contributed over $2 million to mine action efforts in Sudan in 2006. As the single largest contributor to mine action, the U.S. works in coordination with the United Nations Mine Action Office and the UN Development Program. This combined effort has helped open over 1,800 kms of road cleared of mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO), educate over one million individuals about mine and UXO risks, and destroy over 4,000 mines and pieces of UXO in controlled demolitions. The Department of State has also helped support the infrastructure of the National Mine Action Center of the Government of National Unity and the South Sudan Demining Commission.

De-mining efforts have resulted in positive economic development for Sudan along cleared transportation networks. Commodity prices have dropped along cleared roads, while access to health care, education, and government services has also increased.