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SOUTH SUDAN / UNMAS EXPLOSIVES
STORY: SOUTH SUDAN / UNMAS EXPLOSIVES
TRT: 3:17
SOURCE: UNMISS
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGES: ENGLISH / NATS
DATELINE: 30 JANUARY 2019, JUBA, SOUTH SUDAN
1. Various shots, field for explosive demolition
2. Pan right, journalists and partners
3. Various shots, safety briefing
4. Med shot, button pressing for explosion
5. SOUNDBITE (English) Richard Boulter, South Sudan Programme Manager:
“Today, UNMAS, the National Mine Action Authority, and the mine action operators in South Sudan have gathered to destroy an aircraft bomb which was recovered from Juba just last week, to commemorate the fact that together, we have now destroyed one million explosive items in this country.”
6. Various shots, walking through the field
7. SOUNDBITE (English) Richard Boulter, South Sudan Programme Manager:
“The bomb originated from Sudan; it was reported to us by South Sudanese National Police Service just two weeks ago. We then had an operation in Juba to knock the fuse off the bomb using special demining tools. So, we first hit this bomb quite hard in Juba, without making it explode – to make it safe to move – and then we brought it out of town, to blow it out to show the power that it had.”
8. Various shots, bomb explanation
9. SOUNDBITE (English) Richard Boulter, South Sudan Programme Manager:
“The most relevant number, I think, to report is that nine people have been hurt this month alone – one person killed and eight injured. This problem won’t go away on its own. Over all, the number now is, 5,035 people killed or injured: 1,383 people killed, and 3,652 people injured.”
10. Med shot, Jurkuch pressing button
11. Wide shot, explosion
12. SOUNDBITE (English) Jurkuch Barach Jurkuch, Chair, South Sudan National Mine Action Authority:
“If this job of mine-clearance was left to South Sudanese alone, I’m sure this work wouldn’t have finished, or we would not have been doing it to the expectations of the people [of South Sudan. So, to the international community, we are grateful to them for the work done for the South Sudanese.”
13. Various shots, preparing ground for demolishing explosive
14. SOUNDBITE (English) Rosephine Awate Martin, Mine Action Staffer, G4S:
“I’m happy because this work can help our people, for agriculture free of mines. So, I’m happy to join and help our people. Instead of doing the work without women, we participate with our men, together, so that our country will benefit from the land.”
15. Various shots, preparing ground for demolishing explosive
The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) today (30 Jan) demolished a 100kg air-dropped bomb in South Sudan, marking its one millionth destruction of explosive items in the world’s youngest nation.
The demolition, witnessed by local and international journalists, took place in a newly demined area near Jebel Lumuni, a small mountain located 15km south of South Sudan’s capital, Juba.
A safety briefing was followed by a hike through the cleared mine field to see where the defused bomb had been securely placed.
Once all the safety measures had been taken care of, the call was made for the big bang.
Richard Boulter is the man who made the call.
SOUNDBITE (English) Richard Boulter, South Sudan Programme Manager:
“Today, UNMAS, the National Mine Action Authority, and the mine action operators in South Sudan have gathered to destroy an aircraft bomb which was recovered from Juba just last week, to commemorate the fact that together, we have now destroyed one million explosive items in this country.”
He went further, to explain where the bomb had come from.
SOUNDBITE (English) Richard Boulter, South Sudan Programme Manager:
“The bomb originated from Sudan; it was reported to us by South Sudanese National Police Service just two weeks ago. We then had an operation in Juba to knock the fuse off the bomb using special demining tools. So, we first hit this bomb quite hard in Juba, without making it explode – to make it safe to move – and then we brought it out of town, to blow it out to show the power that it had.”
This was one of two bombs recovered from the same area, and Richard says the second will probably be used to destroy other explosive devises and ammunition.
Over the course of the last 14 years, UNMAS and partners have assessed and cleared 1250 square kilometres of land, but approximately 39 square kilometres remain, comprising some 210 mine fields, 124 cluster strikes, and 35 battle areas. They expect to clear these known areas within the next three to five years.
Beyond the contaminated land, Richard thinks the number of people injured or killed by these hazardous devices is the most important piece of statistics.
SOUNDBITE (English) Richard Boulter, South Sudan Programme Manager:
“The most relevant number, I think, to report is that nine people have been hurt this month alone – one person killed and eight injured. This problem won’t go away on its own. Over all, the number now is, 5,035 people killed or injured: 1,383 people killed, and 3,652 people injured.”
The Chairman of the South Sudan National Mine Action Authority (NMAA), Jurkuch Barach Jurkuch, had the honour of pressing the button that set off the bomb, thus destroying it.
SOUNDBITE (English) Jurkuch Barach Jurkuch, Chair, South Sudan National Mine Action Authority:
“If this job of mine-clearance was left to South Sudanese alone, I’m sure this work wouldn’t have finished, or we would not have been doing it to the expectations of the people [of South Sudan. So, to the international community, we are grateful to them for the work done for the South Sudanese.”
According to Jurkuch, there are no new landmines in South Sudan resulting from its most recent civil war, although many exploded ordnances remain from that very war, which was halted by the signing of a revitalized peace agreement in September last year.
At the frontline, are partners: women and men putting their lives at risk for the sake of their country and people.
SOUNDBITE (English) Rosephine Awate Martin, Mine Action Staffer, G4S:
“I’m happy because this work can help our people, for agriculture free of mines. So, I’m happy to join and help our people. Instead of doing the work without women, we participate with our men, together, so that our country will benefit from the land.”
Awate has been working in mine action for the last three years. She is one of only four women on the frontline of mine clearance in her company, G4S.
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