SOMALIA / MINE ACTION

ccording to the United Nations Mine Action Service, nearly every community in south-central Somalia suffers from degrees of explosive remnants of war (ERW) contamination, and few have the support or capacity to deal with these threats. AU/UN-IST

• Categories: News & Features / News Stories / Unifeed
• Video Length: 00:01:50
• Production Date: 4 April 2013
• Asset Language: Original
• Corporate Name: UNITED NATIONS MINE ACTION CENTRE; AFRICAN UNION MISSION IN SOMALIA – AMISOM
• Subject Topical: DISARMAMENT
• Geographic Subject: SOMALIA
• MAMS Id: U130404e

Description

STORY: SOMALIA / MINE ACTION
TRT: 1.50
SOURCE: AU/UN-IST
RESTRICTIONS: NONE
LANGUAGE: ENGLISH / NATS

DATELINE: APRIL 4, 2013, MOGADISHU, SOMALIA

Shotlist

1. Wide shot, sign reading UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) Somalia International day of Mine Awareness
2. Wide shot, area set up for the demonstrations
3. Close up, sign reading battle area clearance
4. Close up, sign reading ‘danger mines’ in the foreground and two EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) teams walking into the battle area clearance
5. Various shots, EOD team member, sweeping the ground for anti-personnel mines
7. Close up guests attentively watching the two EOD (explosive ordinance disposal) team members demonstration
8. Various shots, EOD (explosive ordnance disposal) team member walk into the battle area clearance
17. Med shot, Somali Police Commissioner and Deputy Police Commissioner watching the demonstrations
18. Close up of the Somali Police Commissioner and Deputy Police Commissioner watching the demonstrations.
19. SOUNDBITE (Somalia) Ali Adan, landmine victim:
"Landmines are a big problem, it’s good to have functions like these, where people are taught about the problem of mines, and people can talk about their real life experiences so that others can learn."
20. Wide shot of the EOD team member picking up the mortar shell from the ground
16. Wide shot of the EOD team member taking the mortar shell to the clearance point.
17. Close up shot the mortar shell.

Storyline

The International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action is commemorated on 4 April each year.

Events like the demining demonstration that was held in Somalia, Mogadishu’s capital, today (April 4) were held around the world as the United Nations reaffirmed its commitment to a world free from the threat of mines and other remnants of war.

The Somali Government, aided by African Union peacekeepers (AMISOM), has forced extremist group al-Shabaab out of the capital and most of south-central Somalia. However explosive stockpiles, abandoned weapons, ammunition caches and improvised explosive device (IED) factories pose grave threats whenever Government forces and AMISOM gain control of new areas.

The laying of mines by Al-Shabaab has been reported as a means to secure strategic locations. This is in addition to the detritus of war left after decades of civil conflict, and the minefields laid during the Ogaden and Somali National Movement conflicts.

"Landmines are a big problem, it’s good to have functions like these, where people are taught about the problem of mines, and people can talk about their real life experiences so that others can learn," said Ali Adan, who lost an arm and his sight, as a child, in a landmine explosion.

According the United Nations Mine Action Service, nearly every community in south-central Somalia suffers from a degree of Explosive Remnants of War (ERW) contamination and few have the support or capacity to deal with these threats.

UNMAS United Nations Mines Action has been training clearance operators. Since its inception in Somalia they have trained 1,167 Somali National Police, AMISOM and humanitarian stuff. UNMAS has also trained 12 medics to deal with landmine related incidents and cleared over 22 thousand mines across Somalia.