UNMEE MACC UPDATE - PFEDA / Page d'accueil PFEDA

INFORMATION
UNMEE MINE ACTION COORDINATION CENTRE UPDATE
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24 December 2000
1. Ethiopia. IMSMA (Information Management System for Mine Action) database for Ethiopia
is on order; delivery is anticipated towards the end of January and payment will be made by
UN Mine Action Service.
2. The IMSMA Training team from Switzerland will be in theatre for two weeks during next
month to provide training to UNMEE MACC Data Entry clerks in Eritrea and to UNMEE
MACC personnel in Ethiopia.
3. The overall situation regarding landmine information in Eritrea remains unchanged. The Halo
Trust is continuing with the survey, and only recently have they been allowed limited access
to the TSZ from the Eritrean side.
4. The Ethiopian government has confiscated the results of the HALO survey in Ethiopia.
5. At the MCC meeting in Nairobi on 2 December, it was agreed by both the Ethiopian and
Eritrean parties that their minefield records showing where, when and how many landmines
were laid would be handed over to UNMEE. So far no records have been handed over and
UNMEE MACC has had no access to any detailed E2 military information about mines laid
anywhere within the mission area.
6. Preparation of maps based on the findings from field surveys and E2 minefield records will
start as soon as information is made available. Production will start when digital base maps
are available in the MACC and it is planned that distribution should start around the end of
January.
7. Briefings. Briefings on the mission area mine action situation are available by booking
through the MACC, Operations 150 444 or 6019 or by email lawrencew@un.org.
MINE INCIDENTS
8. On 17 December at about 2300hrs a cow was killed near Omhajer by an anti personal mine
while coming back from the Setit river. Later, six anti personnel mines were found in the
general area and were detonated in a controlled demolition by local EDF engineers. On 20
December the military information officer at the local UNMEE office at Barentu briefed that
no other mine incidents have been reported in the area since the mine accidents of 04
December 2000. Local precautions and security instructions must be adhered to and
maintained.
RECENT MINEFIELDS REPORTED
UNITED NATIONS MISSION IN ETHIOPIA AND ERITREA
MINE ACTION CO-ORDINATION CENTRE
ASMARA, ERITREA
TEL 150 444 / 150 908 EXT 6019 FAX 150 666
lawrencew@un.org
MACC
UNMEE
9. Eritrean Humanitarian Demining Programme (EHDP) estimates the number of mines laid in
Eritrea as 250,000. The Landmine Monitor 2000 (LM 2000) report states: - "According to
information provided by the National Demining Centre (ie EHDP) to the US, 200,000 -

250,000 mines and 3 million UXO are present in Eritrea. Older sources cite between 500,000
and 1,000,000 landmines.... it is estimated that more than five percent of Eritrea’s territory
may be affected by landmines." A copy of the full text of the LM 2000 report is available
digitally or in hard copy from UNMEE MACC.
10. The Canadian Forces Joint Operations Group has reported that there are mines, including
POM-Z Anti Personnel Fragmentation mines mounted on wooden stakes, near the access
route crossing point near Senafe. All personnel are again reminded not to leave the tarmac
road in this area.
11. Minefields are also reported in the following areas:
a. Overlooking the main road in Ghinda.
b. Close to the railway in Maitala.
c. Overlooking the main road into Massawa.
d. Beside the road in Foro.
e. Around the saltpans in Massawa.
f. In the vicinity of Seawater farms in the Hamasien area north of Massawa.
12. UXO are reported in the following regions.
a. The helicopter LZ west of Massawa.
b. In the vicinity of Seawater farms in the Hamasien area north of Massawa.
c. In the vicinity of Ksad Ika.
13. So far 76 records of dangerous area surveys have been entered into the MACC IMSMA
database. Survey locations and other mine action data are also displayed on the briefing map
in the MACC conference room.
14. Reporting. Although mine-related incidents continue on an almost daily basis, reporting
from the mission area to the MACC remains sparse. Units and headquarters are encouraged
to provide all mine information directly to the UNMEE MACC, by fax or e-mail, using
standard IMSMA reporting forms. Standard reporting forms are available on request from the
MACC in paper or digital formats.
MOVEMENT RESTRICTIONS
15. After the recent landmine incidents at Tokombia and Shambiku areas, the Designated Official
for security in Eritrea, in consultation with the security management team, has advised that
Phase Two of the Security Plan has been declared for the area south of Tesseney, Barentu,
Oboli, Mendefera Dekamhare and Adi Keyh with immediate effect.
MINE AWARENESS TRAINING
16. Force G3 Mine Awareness Chief Lt Col Vladimar Zbodak from Slovakia has taken post at
Force Headquarters in the Green Building and can be contacted on 6223.
17. UNMO Mine Awareness Officer Maj Nurul Huda from Bangladesh has taken post,
temporarily located at UNMEE MACC and can be contacted on 150 444.
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POM-Z
Approx 110mm

18. Mine Awareness information cards remain with the printers due to technical problems at the
press.
19. UNICEF and EDP mine awareness trainers, in coordination with ERREC are currently
implementing a ten-day field trip to four sub-zones in the Debub area. Printed MA materials
for IDPs, schools and communities will be distributed during the trip. Since the material has
been printed in a small amount, this will be a field test on the effect and understanding of
messages in the handout. The primary aim of the trip will be to conduct mine awareness to
IDPs in camps and communities and access the structure in the camps and communities to be
able to identify suitable personnel for future training.
20. There remains a lack of teaching and training aids within the UN force and EHDP have
agreed to assist by providing some mine recognition boards. MACC Mine Awareness Officer
will also assist in designing a training package for the UNMEE force and providing some
teaching aids.
21. Requests for civilian mine awareness training should be coordinated through UNMEE
MACC. Several NGOs have asked for mine awareness training and this will be done as it is
required.
22. Mine awareness training has been arranged or conducted recently in Dekemhare, Tesseney,
Akordat and Asmara for agencies and NGOs in those areas. Lessons are for three hours and
so far have been attended by personnel from MSF, WFP, OXFAM and ERREC.
MEETINGS
23. The first UNPK Force Engineer Meeting took place in the Green Building on 19 December;
the following mine action points were discussed.
a. Force Engineer plan for Mine Awareness.
b. Cooperation between UNPK Force and UNMEE MACC.
c. Survey Taskings.
d. Availability of maps from UNMEE MACC.
e. Reporting of information regarding mine accidents and incidents. All reports should
be submitted from the field directly to UNMACC on a standard IMSMA document.
24. The next NGOs and Agencies mine action meeting will be on Wed 10 January at 1430 in
MACC meeting room.
25. The first Technical Work Group meeting for mine action organisations will be held at the
conference room at the UNMEE MACC at 1030 Friday 12 January 2001.
26. At a mine action meeting in New York it was suggested that a small mine action committee
should be established within each E2 country to facilitate better priority setting and planning,
and to ensure a political guarantee of all needs being considered. It was suggested that the
MACC should act as secretariat at these meetings.
LOGISTICS AND EQUIPMENT
27. DANCON have informed MACC that two “Hydrema” mechanical flails for demining
operations have entered the mission area. At present these machines are available for use only
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in support of Danish operations. Mechanical flails are useful for clearing vegetation prior to
further clearance operations. They may also be used as Quality Assurance over ground that
has already been cleared and they may also be used to reduce the risk of landmines on some
areas before manual demining takes place. Machines are most successfully used where they
are considered as one aspect among several necessary for the successful completion of a mine
clearance operation to 100% standard.
28. Planning is that Sector West will have a 153 pers demining engineer coy from Bangladesh.
Estimated deployment will be mid Jan 01. Sector Central will have a 158 pers Slovakian demining
engineer company. Advance party deployment to be complete on 27 Dec. In addition,
Sector Central has a demining capability within the field engineer troop of the Canadian coy.
Sector East will have a 67 pers demining unit from Kenya and Slovakia. Deployment is
expected in Feb 01. The Mine Action Service has approved the equipment from all of the
contingents,
29. Each of the above de-mining units is a reimbursed Force element. This means that each of
these units can be employed where the Force Commander deems necessary.
OTHER SIGNIFICANT INFORMATION
30. UNMEE Force Commanders Directive No. 1 stated that military demining resources must
work closely together with UNMEE MACC and will be given two priorities:
a. Force protection and mobility.
b. Support to humanitarian mine action.
PERSONNEL AND ADMINISTRATION
31. UNMEE MACC is currently staffed as follows
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150 444 VHF Ch 3
a. Programme Manager - Phil Lewis Ext 106 C/s KA
b. Operations - Willie Lawrence Ext 120 C/s KB
c. Information - Dave Armitt Ext 117 C/s KD
d. Technical Adviser - Johan Eklof Ext 124 C/s KC
e. Administration - Venkata Raman Ext 105 C/s KE
f. Mine Awareness coordinator - Jan-Erik Stoa Ext 119
g. LO Addis Ababa - Kim Brandt 7017
W E Lawrence
Chief of Operations

UNMEE MACC OPERATIONS – DISTRIBUTION LIST
Recipients of this UNMEE MACC update are requested to distribute it as required
DISTRIBUTION
Internal External Fax No. E-Mail
MACC PM Phil Lewis CIMIC Rune Sved
MACC Ops Willie Lawrence Danida Peter Trulsen Asmamb@asmamb.um.dk
MACC Info Dave Armitt DCA Chris Larssen
MACC QA John Eklof ECHO D Berrendorf 12 65 78 eudeleri@eol.com.er
LO Addis Kim Brandt EDP LTC R Semere 12 39 50
ERCS Sister A Kidane 15 18 59 rcse@eol.com.er
HQ UNMEE ERREC W Tesfamichiel 18 29 70 errec@gemel.com.er
SRSG Joseph L Legwaila EU S Chardon 12 65 78 eudeleri@eu.er.punchdown.org
DSRSG Ian Martin FAO Hershel Weeks 15 17 39 fao-eri@field.fao.org
FC Gen PC Cammaert HALO Simon Conway 18 25 26
CAO Vitali Petrounev ICC T Power Stevens 18 26 44 icc@gemel.com.er
SMLO Col F Hoogeland Y T/Yohanes
Chief PIO Brian Kelly ICRC J-P Jacquod 18 11 52 asmara.asm@icrc.org
Ch Log Offr Ian Divers Peter Scheiwiller
Chief Sy Offr Cesar Gonzales IFRC Arne Jacobsen 15 18 59 ifrc@eol.com.er
PAO Josh Lincoln IMC
INTERSOS E Pelamatti 20 00 09 (Tel)
It Embassy BG S Leone 122 843 ieada@eol.com.er
LSN T Gebrihiwot 18 43 55 (Tel)
MSF Jacqui Ryan 181 010 Msfh-asmara@amsterdam.msf.org
OCHA Ivo Freijsen 15 10 81 ivo.freijsen@undp.org
SDR R Baudendistel 18 27 35 swisscon@eol.com.er
UNDP Rita Mazzocchi 15 11 66 (Tel)
UNDP Simon Nhongo 15 10 81 simon.nhongo@undp.org
UNFPA Bruce Campbell 15 16 48 bruce.campbell@undp.org
UNHCR W Rappeport 12 72 55
UNICEF Jan Erik Stoa 18 45 28 (Tel)
UNICEF Rachel Odede 15 05 64 (Tel)
UNICEF Dr F Kavishe 15 15 39 fkavishe@unicef.org
UNPK MA LTC V Zbodak (81) 6223 (Tel)
USAID Bill Garvelink 12 30 93 wgarvelink@usaid.gov
Taban Sokonga
wfpasm@gemel.com.er
WFP K Owusu-Tieku 18 48 86 kofi_owusu-tieku@wfp.org
WHO Dr D N-Milang 15 13 22 who@gemel.com.er
WorldBank Emmanuel Ablo 12 43 09 eablo@worldbank.org
Corrections or additions to this Distribution list should be addressed to UNMACC Ops, 150 444 lawrencew@un.org
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