After almost a decade of humanitarian mine action, the global landmine
problem remains poorly defined. Number of mines and mine incidents are still
being used as the definition of the problems. An improvement to this is
measuring the area affected by mines. However, this does not represent a
realistic definition of the problem, as some areas are more important then
others. For instance a piece of agricultural land verses the same amount of land
on the top of a mountain.
A fair amount is known about the suspected
location of mine fields, but little is known about the socio-economic impact of
landmines upon communities. Without information about this impact, it is
impossible to develop effective strategies that seek to minimize the human and
economic costs these weapons inflict. If the terror of landmines is to be
contained within years, as envisioned by the Ottawa Treaty, rather than in
decades as assumed in the early days of Mine Action programs, then better
information is an immediate and unavoidable requirement.
To meet this need
the Survey Action Center was formed in early 1999 with aim of managing the
Global Landmine Survey initiative. This initiative involves the execution of
Level One Landmine IMPACT surveys focused on obtaining not only information
regarding the location of minefields, but also information regarding the socio
and economic impacts that these minefields have on local communities. To date
five impact surveys are ongoing or completed, as well as one modified impact
survey.
Much has been learned during these initial surveys, not only about
the true definition of the landmine problem in surveyed countries, but also
about how impact survey information can be utilized to develop more refined
national strategic plans. To further the incorporation of impact survey data
into national planning processes, SAC in close partnership with the Cranfield
University Mine Action unit has expanded the range of impact survey activities
to include follow on training in strategic planning and survey data analysis.
Greater efforts are also being made to more closely integrate impact survey
activities with ongoing UN efforts at local capacity development.
Executed to
a common international standard and certified by the United Nations Mine Action
Service, the landmine impact survey will:
Allow donors to rationally apportion funds to places of greatest
human need as defined by impact on communities;
Permit national authorities to develop national plans focusing on
regions and areas of greatest impact; and
Give implementers baseline impact data that will provide success
indicators for mine action programs.
WHO ARE WE?
In a unique cooperative effort, the NGO community,
in collaboration with the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) and the
Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining (GIC), has established the
Survey Working Group. The Survey Working Group (SWG) will monitor standards and
facilitate the international coordination of resources and expert personnel for
the completion of the Global Landmine Survey in countries worst affected by
landmines.
The members of the Survey Working Group (SWG)
are:
Association for Aid and Relief
Japan
Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining
Switzerland
Handicap International
Belgium/France
Landmine Survivors Network
USA
Medico International
Germany
Mines Advisory Group
United Kingdom
Mine Clearance Planning Agency
Afghanistan
Norwegian Peoples Aid
Norway
UN Mine Action Service
United Nations
Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation
USA
The Survey
Working Group has designated Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation (VVAF) to
manage and serve as fiscal agent for the Survey Action Center (SAC) in the
coordination and resource mobilization of the Global Landmine Survey program.
FUNDING
The Global Landmine Survey process is funded through
a variety of channels. To date, the following funds have been pledged:
US Department of State
US $ 7,033,000
Canada CIDA & DFAIT
US $ 5,271,000
European Commission
US $ 1,538,000
United Kingdom DFID
US $ 842,000
United Nations Foundation
[1:3 challenge match]
US $ 825,000
Foundations
[Rockefeller, J & C MacArthur, Compton]
US $ 423,000
Japan
US $ 450,000
Norway MFA
US $ 373,000
VVAF
US $ 300,000
Handicap International Fran..
US $ 100,000
Australia
US $ 115,000
Germany
US $ 100,000
Finland
US $ 92,000
World Bank
US $ 20,000
COMPLETED PROJECTS
Yemen – The survey commenced
in July 1999, was completed in July 2000, and certified by the UN Certification
Committee chaired by UNMAS in August 2000. The Canadian government was the prime
donor, with additional support from Japan, Germany, the US, and UN Foundation.
UNOPS was the executing agency with SAC implementation contracted to the Mine
Clearance Planning Agency (MCPA). MCPA and the National Technical Executing Unit
(NTEU) worked together to carry out the survey. In response to a request by
Yemeni national authorities, SAC, MCPA and Cranfield University (UK) conducted a
Survey Utilization Project to train national personnel to utilize survey data
and develop a national mine action works plan.
The outcomes of the survey
utilization project was trained national staff who could effectively use impact
survey data for national mine action planning and a user friendly computer tool
that assists in planning by utilizing the impact survey
data.
MINED AREA SURFACE, BY VEGETATION AND GROUND PROFILE
TYPES
Ground profile
VEGETATION
Flat land only
Contains gullies, hillside or ridge
Other
(eg. moving sand dunes)
Total
NONE
21.8
6.0
0.1
27.9
Short grass only
292.0
162.5
34.2
488.7
Tall grass, at least some
100.9
3.3
0.0
104.3
Bushes or trees, at least some
119.1
87.5
94.2
300.8
Other
1.0
0.0
0.0
1.0
TOTAL
534.8
259.3
128.5
922.7
The survey utilization project results were well received by the
government of Yemen, the United Nations and other mine action organizations. As
a consequence, government authorities where the survey project has been launched
and the UN have requested SAC to assist them with national mine action planning
through implementation of the survey utilization projects.
It has now been
decided to incorporate this activity to the survey project. SAC is developing an
integration protocol aiming to integrate the impact survey activities into the
national mine action program for future update of the survey and national
plan.
A populated IMSMA database and a printed report of the Yemen survey
have been distributed to donors and other relevant organizations. More copies
could be obtained from the National Demining Commission of Yemen or the Survey
Action Center.
ALL YEMEN –
MINED AREA DISTRIBUTION
BY CLASS OF MUNITIONS
Type of mine
Mined areas
Contaminated surfaces (sq m)
AP
631
157,149,373
AP, AT
114
446,389,765
AP, AT, UXO
49
188,928,804
AP, UXO
65
7,310,565
AT
128
49,212,706
AT, UXO
27
32,767,650
Unknown
5
2,660,000
UXO
59
38,308,018
TOTAL
1,078
922,726,881
Kosovo – A SAC technical advisor completed work
with the UN Mine Action Coordination Centre (UNMACC) to bring together disparate
data-streams within the Landmine Impact Survey format. A final report was
published and UNMACC is using the product to prioritize their work. The
European Commission funded the project through UNMAS and UNOPS.
CURRENT ACTIVITIES
Thailand – With funding
from the United Kingdom, Norway, US, the UN Foundation, Australia, Canada, and
Finland SAC contracted Norwegian People’s Aid to begin operations in June
2000. In August 2000 NPA conducted the survey pre-test and the pilot survey was
implemented in September. Village level data collection began in November.
Community level data collection was completed in early April 2001 and all
data has been entered into the IMSMA database. SAC, NPA and the Thai Mine Action
Center are in the process of finalizing the final repot.
Chad
– With support from the US Department of State, the UK and the UN
Foundation, SAC contracted Handicap International - France to begin survey
operations in November 1999. The pilot survey was conducted in summer 2000 in
the western and northern regions. Community level data collection began in all
regions of Chad in fall 2000.
Community level data collection was completed
in mid March 2001. The projected date for completion of the Chad Survey is May
2001. SAC and HI have completed preliminary data analysis of the impact survey
findings. It is estimated that the project report will be published in August
2001. The government of Chad has requested SAC to assist with mine action
planning utilizing the impact survey. SAC and Cranfield Mine Action are planning
to respond to this request.
Mozambique – The
Canadian International Demining Centre (CIDC) is surveying Mozambique with a
Canadian government (CIDA) contribution. SAC and UNMAS provided a Quality
Assurance Monitor (QAM), up to October 2000, funded by the US Department of
State, who was to ensure, that the survey is conducted according to SWG
standards. The Mozambique survey is planned to be completed by the end of May
2001.
Cambodia –Canada (CIDA) is funding a
Canadian company, Geospatial International, to conduct a survey according to SWG
standards. Operations began in May 2000.
Lebanon –
SAC and HMD sent advance survey mission teams to Lebanon and produced a
country survey plan. With funding from the European Commission, MAG and SAC will
begin the survey in July 2001. SAC is planning to hold a training course in
Lebanon for the Lebanon survey team and possibly other country survey teams that
will implement an impact survey in the near future.
Afghanistan
– A SAC advance survey mission to Afghanistan in May 2000 examined
the feasibility of retrofitting existing data into the Landmine Impact Survey
module. The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian
Assistance to Afghanistan (UNOCHA) has sent a letter of intent to SAC and
project planning has begun.
It is planned to begin the Afghanistan impact
survey in the summer of 2001.
Vietnam – With funding
from the US Department of State an advance survey mission to Vietnam, will be
conducted in May of 2001, and a follow-on pilot survey. This work is precursor
to a national Landmine/UXO Impact Survey of Vietnam.
Azerbaijan – SAC conducted an Advance Survey Mission
in December 2000 and plans to begin the survey in August 2001.
Bosnia– SAC conducted a mission to
Bosnia in June 2000 to study feasibility of a Landmine Impact Survey.
Somalia – SAC subcontracted HALO Trust to conduct an
advance survey mission in 1999 in Somaliland. Due to changes in the environment
and to cover other regions of Somalia, SAC has conducted a second Advance Survey
Mission in March 2001. Agreement of government authorities has been obtained to
conduct a full impact survey in Somalia and Somaliland.
A project proposal
has been developed. Depending on availability of funding, SAC plans to begin the
survey of Somalia in the second half of 2001.
FUTURE SURVEYS
Eritrea – The UN and the
government of Eritrea requested that a Landmine Impact Survey be conducted in
this country. SAC will conduct an advance survey mission in May
2001.
Ethiopia – The UN requested that a Landmine
Impact Survey be conducted in Ethiopia. SAC is coordinating an advance survey
mission projected to occur during June 2001.
Nicaragua
– SAC has engaged in discussions with the OAS since August 2000
regarding a survey in Nicaragua. The government of Nicaragua has requested that
SAC conduct a study of existing mine action data there during summer
2001.
Senegal/Guinea Bissau - As a result of discussions at
a mine action conference in Bomoko, SAC is investigating the need and
feasibility of a Landmine Impact Survey in Senegal/Guinea Bissau. An advance
survey mission is projected to occur during September 2001.
Western
Sahara – Norwegian People’s Aid and Medico International
have conducted an exploratory mission to Western Sahara.
Angola
– NPA and SAC are exploring the possibility of retrofitting
existing socio-economic data (collected by NPA) into the IMSMA Landmine Impact
Survey module.
CAPABILITIES
Technical Advisory Team – A
specialized SAC team of internationally recognized experts in social science,
survey, GIS, and statistics is available to assist with surveys in the field and
to help with later analysis.
Survey Information – The
SAC information management office will support national surveys with map data
sets and related information.
Data Base – The SWG has
established the principles of Landmine Impact Survey. SAC and UNMAS have
developed the survey protocols and field questionnaire. In cooperation with the
Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining, this data set has been
integrated into the UN Information Management System for Mine Action (IMSMA).
The field module is available for national surveys.
Training
– SAC has provided detailed Landmine Impact Survey training to
representatives of more than 20 organizations in the donor, UN and NGO
communities. SAC will continue to provide this service to organizations
preparing to implement surveys.
Worldwide Web Site –
The Global Landmine Survey will maintain a web site allowing access to
survey information referenced geographically.
SURVEY ACTION CENTER
Vietnam Veterans of America Foundation
2001 S
Street, NW Suite 310
Washington, DC 20009 U.S.A.
Tel: (202) 483-9222; Fax:
(202) 483-6610
E-mail: sac@vi.org
http://www.landminesurvey.org