Mine Action Day - Press Conference | United Nations

Press Conference by Richard Boulter, Chief of Design, Operational Support and Oversight, UNMAS (in person); along with Edwin Faigmane, Chief of the Mine Action Programme in Nigeria (virtual), and Fatma Zourrig, Chief of the Mine Action Programme in Libya (virtual), ahead of the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action 2025.

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An investigation on the attack that happened against the UNOPS compound in Gaza on the 19th of March is underway, being led by the United Nations Department of Safety and Security, with UNOPS and UNMAS participating, according to the UN Mine Action Service.

The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) officials briefed the reporters today (03 Apr) in New York ahead of the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action (04 Apr), under the theme “Safe Futures Start Here”. The UN mine action community brought attention to the progress made over the last year and the challenges that remain in countries around the world.

Giving an update on Gaza, UNMAS’s Lee Woodyear said that the office is still working in the Strip, “we have six people there as of this morning,” adding that the office is doing the best to escort the United Nations missions that are taking place there.

He stated that UNMAS escorted the mission that went to investigate the killing of the health workers in Gaza.

For his part, Richard Boulter, UNMAS’s Chief of Design, Operational Support and Oversight told reporters, “Landmines, improvised explosive devices and unexploded ordnance continue to cause death and injury on a daily basis.”

“On average, one person is killed or injured by such explosive devices every hour. Many children among the victims,” he stated.

Boulter said, “The use of improvised explosive devices has expanded, terrorizing civilians and threatening humanitarian actors and the United Nations missions and personnel.”

The senior UNMAS official stressed that building on the Pack of the Future, there’s need for funding micro and quick impact projects to address urgent needs of persons with physical disabilities affected by conflict.

He said, “This initiative reinforces the global commitment to civilian protection and to scaling up technology and innovation capacities in developing countries.”

Briefing the reporters via video link, Fatma Zourrig, Chief of the Mine, Action Programme in Libya reiterated, “every life lost or changed by explosive contamination, delays Libya recovery, undermines the stability on the ground.”

She continued, “The threats range from anti-personnel and anti-vehicle mines to UXOs, IED and unsecured contamination. Libya’s vast ammunition storage area, many of which were damaged and destroyed, still hold hundreds of bunkers, some of which are unsecured and pose serious risk.”

“Mine action in Libya is not just the technical task, it is a humanitarian and peace building in person. It is about saving lives, restoring confidence and enabling people to return home,” Zourrig highlighted.

For his part, Edwin Faigmane, Chief of the Mine Action Programme in Nigeria said that his office has recorded the increasing use of IEDs in northwest Nigeria and in northeast Nigeria.

“UNMAS is working with the Nigerian government to mitigate the risks from explosive ordnance. UNMAS deliveries basic education with national NGOs working across the region,” he added.

Faigmane said that UNMAS is also working with the police and civil defense to deliver risk education areas that are not accessible by humanitarian actors, which is an initiative funded by the British Government.

“In addition, UNMAS with funding from the Japanese government, is beginning to work with the police and civil defense through the newly established National Mine Action Center to train the first two humanitarian demining teams in the country,” he concluded.