Contamination and Impact

Mines and explosive remnants of war (ERW)—both abandoned explosive ordnance and unexploded ordnance (UXO)—affect many parts of Somalia. The precise extent and impact of the overall problem remains to be defined.

In Mogadishu, mine/ERW casualties are reported almost daily.[1] Only parts of Mudug, Galgaduud, and Lower Shabelle in South-Central Somalia were accessible for mine action activities in 2010, as well as some districts in Mogadishu controlled by the Transitional Federal Government (TFG). The mine action program relies on national staff members who work within the complicated security environment.[2]

Mines

It is believed that mine contamination is extensive, particularly in the south central region. A UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) baseline survey in 2008 of 718 communities in Bakol, Bay, and Hiraan regions revealed 67 communities were impacted in the Afgooye Corridor and several districts in Mogadishu, with 59 suspected mined areas and high volumes of both antipersonnel and antivehicle mines as well as ERW. The border area with Ethiopia is also known to be mined.[3]

Three phases of a Landmine Impact Survey (LIS) have been conducted across all of northern Somalia (Puntland, Sanaag, Somaliland, and Sool regions).[4] In total, across Puntland, Sanaag, and Sool regions, 125 communities were found to be impacted by 263 suspected hazardous areas (SHAs). Roads and pastures were found to be the most affected resources.[5] The communities in Sanaag and Sool covered by the Somaliland Mine Action Center were resurveyed in 2008–2009 by HALO Trust. The survey found 23 mined areas and two battle areas in Sanaag, and 23 mined areas and one battle area in Sool.[6] Since the surveys were completed, the Puntland Mine Action Centre (PMAC) field assessments have indicated there may be more hazardous areas in Puntland, Sanaag, and Sool than the ones identified during the LIS.[7]

Explosive remnants of war

A March 2007 evaluation by the Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GICHD) concluded that ERW were “very widespread” across Somalia and, in most of the country, “constitute a greater threat than do minefields.”[8] In March 2011, the UN restated its belief that ERW contamination was a larger problem than mine contamination.[9]

More than 400,000 internally displaced people living in the Afgooye Corridor[10] are affected by ERW and abandoned ordnance stockpiles. Mines and ERW are harvested for commercial use, and by armed groups for use in improvised explosive devices.[11]

UXO are said to be held for security or for monetary value, and erode feelings of safety; this is addressed through police EOD capacities in Somaliland and Puntland with support from the UN and Mines Advisory Group (MAG), as well as a Community Safety Enhancement Program implemented by the Danish Demining Group (DDG) in Somaliland and Mudug.[12]

Mine Action Program

Somalia has a complex operating environment with differing threat profiles. The UN has divided Somalia into three zones—Somaliland, Puntland, and south central Somalia—to implement mine action activities. The respective authorities responsible for mine action in each of the three areas design strategies and set priorities.[13]The Monitor reports on Somaliland separately.

Key institutions and operators

South central Somalia

The south central region in Somalia has been without an effective government since 1991; consequently, there are no established national mine action structures. The TFG does not have a defined mine action strategy.[14]

The UN Somalia Mine Action Programme (known as UN Somalia Mine Action) has been managed by UNMAS since early 2009.[15] UNMAS works with the TFG, local authorities, protection and health networks, and other humanitarian actors, including UNICEF and UNHCR.[16] In 2010, as part of its capacity-building work with the government, UNMAS trained a team of 57 personnel within the military of the TFG that includes 24 EOD operators, four explosive detection dog (EDD) handlers, and 29 people with marking and survey skills.[17]

Despite constant security threats, there has been some progress in establishing a mine action program. In 2010, construction began on a mine action center in Mogadishu.[18] In March 2011, the UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) requested expressions of interest from potential contractors for services needed to expand the program and support the existing infrastructure. The requests covered camp management, including security services; EDD training; mentoring and deployment services; and demining and training for AMISOM.[19] In Mogadishu, UNMAS offered explosives management support to assist AMISOM engineering units, making the deployment of peacekeepers safer and more efficient.[20]

DDG and UNMAS have undertaken emergency mine/ERW risk education (RE) and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) in accessible districts in and around Mogadishu, as well as in Mudug and Galgaduud, northeast of Mogadishu. The TFG EOD teams have access to areas not open to international NGOs or UN agencies. One priority in 2011 is to collect data to better understand the mine/ERW threat in half of all accessible areas in Banadir, Galgaduud, and Mudug regions.[21]

Northeast Somalia

In Puntland, PMAC coordinates all pillars of mine action on behalf of the Government. PMAC works closely with implementing partners MAG and DDG to prioritize EOD, RE, and survey.[22] In 2011, UNMAS planned to focus its support to PMAC on strengthening information management capacity, as well as a community outreach initiative by MAG to verify 92 communities with possible mine/ERW impact.[23]

PMAC receives 12,000,000 Somali shillings per month from the government of Puntland. The value of the contribution, according to PMAC, has decreased in value to US$400 per month from $1,000 per month.[24] PMAC is lobbying the government to provide a fixed percentage of the annual PMAC budget.[25]

Land Release

There is no formal land release policy in Somalia. Operators clear explosive items primarily on a response/call-out basis.

Survey in 2010

DDG conducted a General Mine Action Assessment (GMAA) to assess ERW contamination in Mogadishu and in and around Galkayo (in Puntland region, close to the Ethiopian border). The survey was conducted in 42 communities in Galkayo where a total of 330 SHAs were reported. Of the 42 impacted communities, three also had a mine problem. During the GMAA, DDG cleared 976 different types of UXO. In Mogadishu, access was limited to areas under the control of the TFG, where DDG identified 248 SHAs and destroyed 568 items of UXO.[26]

EOD surveys in Mogadishu are house-to-house and frequently result in the inhabitants informing the survey teams that they have ordnance in the house. Other items of UXO are found in police stations and in the street.[27]

Survey results South Central Somalia in 2010[28]

Mine and battle area clearance in 2010

No mine clearance was conducted in Puntland in 2010. The LIS in 2005 had identified 35 SHAs in Bari, Mudug, and Togdheer regions of Puntland. PMAC reported that mine-affected communities in these regions have asked PMAC to clear the contaminated areas. Without funding or assets for mine clearance, PMAC was unable to respond to the requests and subsequently PMAC reported less cooperation from the affected communities in EOD surveys and less interest in attending RE sessions.[29]

In 2010, 13 EOD teams operated in south central Somalia and two police EOD teams in Puntland.[30] Since May 2008, MAG has been training the Puntland police EOD team, which consists of seven officers supported by PMAC. On 10 February 2011, the Puntland police, under the supervision of MAG and with financial support from the United States (US) Department of State, destroyed more than 380 antipersonnel mines and antivehicle mine fuses. Since 2008, MAG has destroyed over 70 tons of explosive ordnance.[31]

DDG reported its teams responded to two to three call-outs per week per team, amounting to more than 400 in 2010. During EOD operations, DDG found and destroyed four antipersonnel M14 mines in Galinsoor in Mudug region. In Mogadishu, items of UXO are found everywhere, but in Galkayo they are mostly found in former military and militia installations and in private homes.[32]

Demolition of the ERW and UXO takes place at the airport in Mogadishu, which also serves as the base of the mine action operators.[33]

EOD in Puntland in 2010[34]

EOD by AMISOM in 2010[35]

In 2011, UNMAS planned to increase its support to AMISOM by training 200 AMISOM personnel in EOD and demining, with initial training taking place in Burundi, Kenya, and Uganda (the three countries that provide the majority of the personnel to AMISOM). The project could include as many as 10 international advisors and trainers.[36]

EOD capacity in 2010[37]

Quality management

In 2010, PMAC assessed 20 UXO callouts and issued 12 Task Dossiers to the EOD teams to conduct demolitions. The PMAC also quality assured 36 activities.[38]

Other Risk Reduction Measures

In mid-2010, MAG began RE in Puntland with three Community Liaison teams.[39] MAG’s community liaison teams conduct RE with separate groups of men, women and children, focusing on how to identify UXO and mines in and around the community and on ways to stay safe in communities where ERW are present. MAG also establishes “Community Antenna” teams with a senior male and female member of the community as focal points, to spread safety messages and collect information on the location of ERW contaminated areas.[40] In 2010, MAG Community Liaison teams visited 41 communities.[41]

In 2010, HI approached RE in several ways. It developed an RE training manual and established six RE Community-based networks with an elected management structure. HI also trained six community elders and 148 schoolteachers for the RE network through a two-day training and produced 15,000 leaflets and 5,000 posters. HI also produced a one-minute-long RE radio program that resulted in 600 broadcasts of the RE messages.[42]

From 29 to 31 March 2011, the Somalia Coalition to Ban Landmines (SOCBAL) hosted an RE workshop for 25 participants from the Mogadishu area.[43] Also, in 2011 UNMAS planned to provide emergency mine/ERW RE messages in Mogadishu, Afgooye, Galgaduud, and other priority areas.[44]

In south central Somalia, DDG has partnered with the Horn of Africa Center for Peace[45] and the Puntland Minority Women’s Development Organization to deliver RE. DDG also provides RE through its community safety program, which works with communities to establish a safety plan by offering safe storage devices to store privately owned firearms, firearm safety education, and encouraging police-community dialogue.[46]