Humanitarian Demining Operation

 

  1. During the decade long internal conflict, Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) Holding Unit of the Nepalese Army (NA), in liaison with local Engineer units and Field Companies laid mines and IEDs with a sole purpose of strengthening the obstacle system of various locations of the NA.
  2. On 21 November 2006, Government of Nepal signed a Comprehensive Peace Accord declaring their commitment to converting the ceasefire signed on 26 April 2006 into permanent peace. Mine action became a key element of the Peace Accord and the Agreement on the Monitoring of the Management of Arms and Armies signed on 8 December 2006. Under the Preamble of the "Agreement on Monitoring of the Management of Arms and Armies," article 5.2 has clearly stated de-mining and decommissioning of military hazards as permitted activities. Following provision about the mine action are categorically mentioned in Comprehensive Peace Accord under the "Agreement on Monitoring of the Management of Arms and Armies":
    1. “Both sides shall assist each other to mark landmines and booby-traps used during the time of armed conflict by providing necessary information within 30 days and to defuse and remove/lift and destroy them within 60 days"
    2. "All improvised explosive devices will be collected at designated sites at a safe distance from the main cantonment areas. Unsuitable devices will be destroyed immediately."
  3. To meet the desired objective of "Comprehensive Peace Accord-2063 B.S." and with the sole aim of clearing the minefields, IEDs and other explosives devices laid during the insurgency period; Nepalese Army Mine Action Co-ordination Center (NAMACC) was established on 1 December 2006 at EOD Holding Unit as a part of Engineer Directorate. The role of NAMACC is to conduct humanitarian de-mining and other mine related tasks.
  4. NA has planted anti-personal mines in 53 places and other command detonated improvised explosive devices (IEDs) in 275 places.
  5. In order to prevent people and animals straying into the minefields and to ease the future de-mining process, Nepalese Army has taken the following precautionary measures -
    1. All the minefields are well marked and recorded.
    2. All Mine Fields are well sign posted.
    3. The perimeter fences around minefields are well maintained and strengthened.

    Bomb Hoax at Babar Mahal
  6. On 21 June 2007, Nepal Government formally set up the Nepal Mine Action Steering Committee (NMASC) with policy responsibilities and Technical Committee as implementing body, both chaired by the Ministry of Peace and Reconstruction.
  7. As per the Comprehensive Peace Accord - 2006, Nepalese Army has been fully committed in the field of Mine Action Management. Nepalese Army has been involved in the following activities of Mine Action directly or indirectly:-
    1. Demining
    2. Mine Risk Education
    3. Victim Assistance

    8. NAMACC in De-mining

  8. De-mining covers the activities which lead to the removal of the threat from landmines and Explosive Remnants of War (ERW). Humanitarian mine clearance should be distinguished from military de-mining, as the objective of mine clearance is to clear all of the mines and other ERW from a given area in order to return safe land to the civilian population. For soldiers in battle, on the other hand, speed is essential and they must accept greater risks.
    After the establishment of NAMACC, Nepalese Army started humanitarian de-mining of minefields. Prior to the commencement of de-mining operation, the verification of all 53 minefields was completed. This was then followed by survey, risk assessment, mapping, marking, clearance, post clearance documentation and the handover of cleared land. Physical clearance is only a part of the de-mining process but it is the most costly part. After the contaminated area is made free from explosive devices including metal contents the cleared area is then handed over to the concerned body in presence of representatives from international Mine Action Unit (MAU), local government, local security commander and the local people living around minefield sites.

    9. NA De-mining Team

  9. NAMACC has conducted Humanitarian De-mining Training of three batches according to the International Mine Action Standard (IMAS) for manual clearance operation. The training was provided by United Nation Mine Action Team (UNMAT).
  10. Currently, 3x IMAS accredited Demining Team are deployed in the field and one more team is on hand with the NAMACC which can be deployed on a short notice.

    Minefield Clearance Progress

  11. After completion of the first demining training, the first Humanitarian Demining took place at Khimti of Dolakha district. So on the process of expansion of Demining team, all 53 minefields located in various parts of the country have already been cleared. The details of the cleared minefields, as of June 14, 2011, are as follows:
    S. No. District Minefield
    1 Dolakha Khimti
    2 Arghakhanchi Thada
    3 Makawanpur Mahadevdanda
    4 Khotang Suntale
    5 Doti Budar
    6 Tanahun Jalbhanjyang
    7 Siraha Kopche
    8 Doti Samuwagad
    9 Rolpa Liwang
    10 Lamjung Bhirpustung
    11 Lamjung Bhorletar
    12 Gulmi Wamitaksar
    13 Baglung Hatiya
    14 Doti Jhigrana
    15 Baitadi Bittadpakha
    16 Syangja Nuwakot
    17 Dadeldhura Kaphali
    18 Dang Lamahi
    19 Dadeldhura Jogbudha
    20 Solukhumbu Salleri
    21 Dang Sineghash
    22 Ramechhap Manthali
    23 Kailali Budhitola
    24 Pyuthan Swargadwari
    25 Ramechhap Sukhajor
    26 Banke Nepalgunj
    27 Palpla Jaitlung
    28 Pyuthan Mallarani
    29 Pyuthan Khalanga
    30 Surkhet Chamere
    31 Surkhet Chhinchu
    32 Kailali Bhajani
    33 Parbat Panchase
    34 Dailekh Ranimatta
    35 Sindhuli Madanbas
    36 Tanahun Dagam
    37 Dhankuta Bhedetaar
    38 Baglung Bhimgitthe
    39 Kapilvastu Gorusinghe
    40 Rukum Boheragaun
    41 Rukum Sankh
    42 Salyan Kapurkot
    43 Dang Rajkot
    44 Rolpa Khumel
    45 Dhankuta Ganeshtar
    46 Salyan Khalanga
    47 Rolpa Liwang
    48 Illam Aitabaare
    49 Illam Murtidanda
    50 Pyuthan Diwang
    51 Rukum Khara
    52 Paanchthar Silaute
    53 Lalitpur Phulchoki

    12. Battle Area Clearance (BAC)

  12. A BAC team of NAMACC was deployed in Ghumaune Taal area of Rukhu Piple VDC of Myagdi district on 20 July 2010. The team conducted emergency BAC in the area for 6 days and cleared 2000 meter square area but no IED or UXO was found. BAC was conducted to clear the area after a 29 year old local named Subindra Shahi was injured by an explosion of UXO on 14 June.

    13. The details of the BAC conducted are:

    S.N Region District Name of Place Start Date End Date No. of IED/UXO Destroyed Area Cleared (M 2) Cleared by
    1. West Myagdi Ghumaune Taal Jul 20, 2010 Jul 26, 2010 - 2000 BAC team

     

    Training

  13. The EOD Holding Unit has been conducting various training programmes related to the demining and other relevant areas. The details of the training conducted are:
    14. TECHNICAL TRAINING
    S.N. Training Start Date End Date Nos. of Trainers Working Days
    1 Basic Demining 2010/06/24 2010/07/14 50 18
    2 Basic First Aid 2010/06/24 2010/07/11 5 15
    3 Computer Course 2010/06/24 2010/07/11 10 15
    4 Medical Refresher 2010/07/14 2010/07/21 7 7
    5 Battle Area Clearance 2010/07/14 2010/07/16 40 3
    6 IMSMA User Course 2010/07/19 2010/07/21 7 3
    7 Enhanced Demining 2010/07/19 2010/07/21 15 3
    8 Fire Training 2010/07/22 2010/07/23 30 2
    9 Non Technical Survey 2010/08/09 2010/08/13 9 5
    10 EOD Level-3 2010/08/29 2010/09/23 15 21

     

    MANAGEMENT TRAINING
    S.N. Training Start Date End Date Nos. of Trainers Working Days
    1 Intermediate Demining 2010/07/25 2010/07/29 14 5
    2 Advanced Demining 2010/08/16 2010/08/20 14 5
    3 Training of Trainers 2010/09/06 2010/09/13 10 7

     

    NAMACC in Mine Risk Education(MRE)

  14. The International Mine Action Standards (IMAS) define the term mine risk education (MRE) as "activities which seek to reduce the risk of injury from mines and ERW by raising awareness and promoting behavioral change, including public information dissemination, education and training, and community mine action liaison." MRE has three main goals:-
    1. To minimize deaths and injuries from landmines and Explosive Remnants of War (ERW).
    2. To reduce the social and economic impact from landmines and ERW; and
    3. To support development.
  15. NAMACC is actively involved and has conducted various MRE programs at and around mines or UXO affected communities with the sole purpose of minimizing the mine and UXO related accidents. School Children, Local Villagers, Security force etc are the main target groups. MRE Campaign is done as part of Mine Action in co-ordination with UNICEF and it is done to cover all the communities affected by Mine Fields and IED Fields. All together 21,565 people were educated by this campaign and was conducted in 84 different locations. Beside this, Emergency Mine Risk Education (EMRE) programs are promptly conducted by the Nepalese Army personals at places surrounding the minefield sites where accidents occurred due to mines and IEDs.
  16. UNICEF has provided 3x MRE Training (180 Soldiers got trained), 12,000 MRE Sign posting, 53MRE Kit Bag and 15,000 MRE related leaflets and pamphlets to NAMACC.

    17.  

    Conclusion

  17. In the later years of Nepal's 10-year conflict, the security forces have used conventional anti personnel mines and different types of improvised explosive devices (IEDs). Nepalese Army has laid 53 minefields with anti-personnel mines and 275 fields with command-detonated devices (IEDs) as defensive perimeters around its security bases. Nepalese Army is seriously committed in Mine Action Management as per the Comprehensive Peace Accord 2006. The demining job carried out by Nepalese Army is getting praise from the international communities and agencies. This has been witnessed during the visit by donour countries and other higher delegates. UNMAT is the main international organization assisting technically, logistically and financially in this field due to which the job has become much easier and efficient. The assistance provided by the British government has made the de-mining operation functional. The assistance and cooperation shown by other NGO's and INGO's is highly appreciable and Nepalese Army is seeking for their continued cooperation in the future days as well. Though the de-mining is a risky job, NAMACC is performing with confidence and high standard of skill. The very nature of de-mining operation is Humanitarian; it will definitely enhance the image and professionalism of Nepales Army. We are striving to train and equip our men to send independent demining team for the UN Peacekeeping Operations as well.

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