Contamination and Impact

Mines

Western Sahara remains significantly affected by mines and explosive remnants of war (ERW) due to the conflict between the Royal Moroccan Army and the Popular Front for the Liberation of Saguia el Hamra and Rio de Oro (Polisario Front) forces. A defensive wall (the Berm) was built during the conflict, dividing control of the territory between Morocco on the west side, and the Polisario Front on the east side.

The exact extent of contamination in Western Sahara is not known, but according to Action on Armed Violence (AOAV), “The areas surrounding the Berm are believed to be some of the most heavily mined in the world.”[1] A separate report on Morocco addresses contamination and clearance west of the Berm.

In 2008, a survey conducted by AOAV in five areas on the east side of the Berm identified 37 mined areas. An additional mined area was identified in 2010.[2] Nearly half of the 38 minefields are located in Bir Lahlou followed by Tifariti, Mehaires, and Awanit.[3]

As of March 2014, the high and medium mine threat east of the Berm and outside the buffer strip covered an estimated 155km²—a 15% increase on the 134km² reported in March 2011, while total mine contamination was estimated at 292km².[4] Neither survey nor clearance activities were being conducted in the 5km buffer zone to the east of the Berm.[5] AOAV has estimated that tens of thousands of mines and other explosive devices remain inside the buffer strip.[6]

The total number of mine/ERW victims in Western Sahara is not known, though estimates suggest some 2,500 victims since 1975.[7] The UN Secretary General reported that between April 2012 and April 2013 nine accidents caused by mines/ERW injured two civilians to the east of the Berm.[8]

Cluster munition remnants and ERW

There remains a significant problem of cluster munition remnants in Western Sahara. While clearance had been projected to be completed by the end of 2012,[9] the discovery of previously unknown contaminated areas meant this target date was not met. As of July 2014, there were 43 known cluster munition strike zones east of the Berm requiring clearance, three of which were discovered in June 2014.[10] New strike areas are expected to be found as information is received from local populations.[11] It was reported that because of the lack of funding for AOAV’s battle area clearance (BAC) team, no new target date for clearance is available.[12]

Western Sahara is also contaminated with many other ERW. A 2008 AOAV-managed survey identified one area containing unused ammunition and 433 spot clearance tasks.[13] Of these, 233 explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) spot tasks had been completed as of March 2011.[14] The remainder, outside of the buffer zone close to the Berm, was cleared by the end of 2011.[15]

Mine Action Program

The UN Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) manages a Mine Action Coordination Centre (MACC), which was upgraded from a mine “cell” in February 2008. MINURSO MACC supports mine action activities, which are implemented through a partnership between AOAV and Mechem, a commercial contractor.[16]

A total of 56 demining personnel were operating in 2013.[17] The program had one mechanical team with three mechanical assets including one MineWolf and, since October 2013, one vehicle-mounted mine detection system (VMMDS), comprising one Casspir and one Tapir. Mechanical assets have been used to support minefield clearance operations in the southern Mijek region. In addition, the VMMDS supported MINURSO with road verification.[18]

In 2005, the Polisario Front committed to a ban on landmines by signing Geneva Call’s Deed of Commitment in which it committed to cooperate in and undertake mine clearance.[19] In September 2013, the Polisario Front established a local mine action coordination center (the Saharawi Mine Action Coordination Office, SMACO), which is responsible for the coordination of mine action activities in Western Sahara east of the Berm and for land release related activities.[20] SMACO was established with UN support and started its activities in January 2014. Since then, AOAV and MINURSO MACC have been working with SMACO to develop its capacity in trainings planned to be completed in April 2014.[21]

In June 2012, AOAV started working on the first of the 38 confirmed mined areas, in Mijek, which alone is estimated to cover approximately 73km². Clearance of this minefield was prioritized as it was preventing the local population from accessing water and using land for grazing.[22] Release of the area was expected before the end of 2014.[23] With existing capacity, AOAV has estimated that total mine clearance in Western Sahara will require more than 20 years of work.[24] AOAV has reported that it is competing for a new, three-year contract with the United Nations Office for Project Services (UNOPS) to continue its mine action program in Western Sahara until 2017. AOAV expects to learn if it was successful in its bid by August 2014.[25]

Land Release

Clearance capacities were deployed in the southern Mijek region and the northern Mehaires region in 2013. No mined area survey was conducted in 2013.[26]

Mines

Deminers and all the program’s mechanical assets worked on minefield clearance in Mijek—the first minefield ever addressed by the MACC—covering almost 2km² (1,990,280m²) but finding no mines. Clearance of the Mijek minefield is expected to be completed in 2014.[27]

Between June and December 2012, approximately 1.8km² was cleared; one antipersonnel mine, five anti-tank mines, 256 submunitions, and 364 items of unexploded ordnance (UXO) were found.[28]

Mined area clearance in 2013[29]

Note: APM = antipersonnel mine; AVM = antivehicle mine; U-SUB = unexploded submunition; UXO = unexploded ordnance other than unexploded submunitions

Release of cluster munition contaminated areas in 2013

AOAV conducted new surveys of cluster munition strike sites in 2013 that resulted in the discovery of an additional 22 strike zones.[30]

In 2013, AOAV cleared 10 areas contaminated by cluster munitions over a total area of almost 1km² (985,000m²), and destroyed 1,046 unexploded submunitions in the process, in addition to three antivehicle mines.

Cluster munition clearance in 2013[31]

BAC/EOD in 2013

In 2013, 15 EOD spot tasks were conducted, destroying 12 UXO and five antivehicle mines in the process.

Battle area clearance in 2013[32]

Support for Mine Action

In 2013, Norway, Spain, and Switzerland contributed US$1.2 million to mine action in Western Sahara, an increase of some $800,000 on contributions in 2012.[33] Norway provided its support to AOAV, and Spain made its contribution via the UN Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Action. Switzerland provided in-kind assistance to UNOPS.[34]