History and Biodata |
Danish Demining Group (DDG) (Bamiyan) is an implementing partner of UNMAS in Afghanistan:
Head Mrs. Fariza Mohammad (20200130)
The Mine Action Programme of Afghanistan (MAPA) was established in 1989. In 2012, the Afghan Directorate for Mine Action Coordination (DMAC) began to execute aspects of the programme management of the MAPA in direct collaboration with UNMAS. As of 1 June 2018, the DMAC absorbed all Afghan technical mine action personnel previously employed by UNMAS. The Afghan Government has asked UNMAS for continued technical support beyond 2018, in areas such as strategic planning and advocacy, resource mobilization, and funds management and contracting.
While some 77 per cent of the known minefields and battle areas have now been cleared, Afghanistan remains one of the countries most affected by landmines and ERW. Some 3,920 identified hazards remain, impeding development by delaying the construction of new road networks, airports, transmission lines, and returnee settlement. Due to evolving conflict dynamics, Afghanistan’s humanitarian mine action needs are now as great as they have ever been.
UNMAS assisted the Government of Afghanistan to successfully request a ten-year extension to complete its clearance obligations under the Anti-Personnel Mine Ban Convention. A detailed work plan to achieve mine-free status by 2023 was developed, and DMAC and its accredited implementing partners continue to make progress towards this end. In Afghan year 1397 (2018-19), UNMAS-contracted teams cleared some 13.6 square kilometres of explosive hazard contaminated land, destroying 960 AP mines, 39 AT mines and 16,302 ERW. This work benefitted 83 communities.
For the first time in the 30-year history of humanitarian mine action in Afghanistan, women began landmine clearance operations on 1 June 2018. Fourteen women were trained on non-technical survey and demining techniques. They released 51,520 square metres of mine/ERW affected land back to their community in Bamyan province. They also participated in vocational trainings, on topics such as archaeological excavation, tourism and business. They started their second clearance project of the last known-minefield in Bamyan in April 2019. Beyond the immediate lifesaving assistance, these women set an example through their meaningful and impactful participation in mine action, and the development of their community.
Established in1997, the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) works to eliminate the threat posed by mines, explosive remnants of war and improvised explosive devices by coordinating United Nations mine action, leading operational responses at the country level, and supporting the development of standards, policies and norms. As a specialized service of the United Nations located within the Department of Peace Operations, UNMAS operates under UN legislative mandates of both the General Assembly and the Security Council. UNMAS also responds to specific requests for support from the UN Secretary-General or designated official. UN Security Council Resolution 2365(2017) the first stand-alonetextonmineaction. |