United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS)

On 23 July 2026, UNMAS, together with Switzerland and Kenya, officially launched the Conventional Munitions Disposal (CMD) Guidelines Initiative at the Permanent Mission of Switzerland to the United Nations. The event brought together representatives from 24 Member States, demonstrating a strong interest in this important effort.  The initiative will establish a Member State-led Working Group that develops a Guideline that captures recognized good practices, operational principles, and safety considerations for CMD operations in support of three key objectives: capability building, training development, and enhanced interoperability among peacekeeping contingents and the mine action community. As champion of the initiative, Switzerland will support the initial drafting process through its Swiss EOD Center and host the Working Group at Swiss Armed Forces International Command (SWISSINT). Kenya, as co-chair of the initiative, will host a further workshop at the Humanitarian Peace Support School (HPSS) in Nairobi, a long-standing partner of UNMAS in regional Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) capacity-building efforts. UNMAS thanks Kenya and Switzerland for their leadership and commitment to this initiative. We also thank all participating Member States for their engagement and look forward to working together to strengthen the safety, preparedness, and interoperability of peacekeepers and mine action practitioners worldwide.  #UNMAS #Peacekeeping #MineAction #SWISSINT #HPSS #Switzerland #Kenya  Switzerland at the United Nations & other International Organisations Swiss Armed Forces SWISSINT - Swiss Armed Forces International Command International Peace Support Training Centre

Job Alert! UNMAS/UNOPS seeks an Operations Specialist - Ammunition and Weapon Management in Bangui Lead mine action programs, drive innovation, and support global peace efforts. Apply by: 11 August 2026 https://lnkd.in/eD8Ji6iS

UNMAS is proud to share "Stories of Hope," a new publication highlighting the real-world impact of mine action across Gaza and the West Bank. From minimizing explosive risks to educating communities on safety and supporting survivors, these stories reflect the resilience of the people on the ground and the dedication of teams working toward a safer future. Read the full document here: https://lnkd.in/eXU6Tt88 #MineActionOPT Danish Refugee Council / Dansk Flygtningehjælp Palestinian Vision Organization The HALO Trust Save Youth Future Society - SYFS

UNMAS supports the disposal of MONUSCO’ Force expired ammunition In 2026, UNMAS MONUSCO intensified its coordination with MONUSCO’ Force to support the safe disposal of expired ammunition belonging to Police and Troop Contributing Countries (P/TCCs). Through joint assessment missions, suitable demolition sites were identified in Goma (North Kivu Province), as well as in Kinshasa. From January to July 2026, UNMAS safely destroyed 256.633 expired Small Arms Ammunition and 8,048 pyrotechnics belonging to T/PCCs in Goma and Kinshasa, marking a decisive step towards completing the disposal of MONUSCO's obsolete ammunition. This achievement contributes to preventing the diversion of ammunition from peace operations, reducing illicit circulation, and enhancing the safety and security of peacekeepers as well as communities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. #AmmunitionManagement #Peacekeeping #ProtectionOfCivilians #SafetyOfPeacekeepers -- UNMAS appui la destruction des munitions obsolètes de la Force MONUSCO En 2026, UNMAS et MONUSCO ont renforcé leur coordination avec la Force de la MONUSCO afin de soutenir l’élimination en toute sécurité des munitions obsolètes appartenant aux pays contributeurs de troupes et de police (T/PCC). À travers des missions conjointes d’évaluation, des sites appropriés de destruction ont été identifiés à Goma et Beni (province du Nord-Kivu), ainsi qu’à Kinshasa. De janvier à juillet 2026, l’UNMAS a détruit en toute sécurité 256.633 munitions de petit calibre et 8,048 artifices périmés appartenant aux T/PCC à Goma et Kinshasa, marquant une étape décisive vers la destruction complète des stocks de munitions obsolètes de la MONUSCO. Cette réalisation contribue à prévenir le détournement de munitions issues des opérations de paix, à réduire leur circulation illicite et à renforcer la sûreté et la sécurité des Casques bleus ainsi que des communautés de la République démocratique du Congo. #MaintienDeLaPaix #GestionDesMunitions #ProtectionDesCivils #SécuritéDesCasquesBleus

UNMAS South Sudan completed clearance at a key internally displaced persons (IDP) relocation site at Hai Masna Talip in support of UNDP and partners in the implementation of Government-led durable solutions for IDPs  in Wau, Western Bahr el Ghazal. The ceremony brought together representatives from UNDP, the Relief and Rehabilitation Commission (RRC), the Ministry of Housing, Land and Public Utilities, Area-Based Coordinators , IDP representatives, local authorities, community leaders, UNMISS, UNPOL, and other humanitarian partners, reaffirming their shared commitment to supporting safe, dignified, and sustainable solutions for displaced communities. Following the successful completion of clearance operations, UNMAS formally handed over the cleared land to UNDP, making the area available for humanitarian and development activities. In collaboration with the RRC and the Ministry of Housing, Land and Public Utilities, UNDP will support the relocation of approximately 753 internally displaced households to the site. The handover demonstrates the critical role of mine action in enabling humanitarian assistance, protecting civilians, durable solutions, and ensuring that land is safe before communities can relocate and rebuild their lives. UNMAS remains committed to working alongside the Government of South Sudan, UNDP, and humanitarian partners to create safer environments that support durable solutions, recovery, and lasting peace. #UNMAS #SouthSudan #MineAction #DurableSolutions #IDPs #HumanitarianAction #Recovery #Peacebuilding United Nations Mission In South Sudan (UNMISS)

We are grateful for Deputy Special Representative of the Secretary-General/Resident Coordinator Ulrika Richardson for leading Libya Mine Action Programme visit to the Tunisian Counter-IED Centre of Excellence in Bizerte to explore opportunities for support on mine action in Libya. DSRSG/RC reflected on her visit, where she highlighted the importance of regional cooperation and specialized training in strengthening mine action efforts in Libya. Supported by the willingness of the center's leadership team, DSRSG/RC, through UNMAS Libya, committed to help facilitating the strengthening of cooperation with Libya, which will benefit stability not only in Libya, but also in the region. UNSMIL - United Nations Support Mission in Libya

In the Occupied Palestinian Territory, UNMAS and the European Union work to make communities safer and facilitate humanitarian response. -Through assessments of routes and sites, the project has enabled lifesaving humanitarian responses, including medical and food aid to reach communities, rehabilitation of educational facilities, and clearance of debris.  -Awareness campaigns have reached hundreds of thousands across the OPT, ensuring people know how to mitigate the explosive threats.  -Coordination with local and international partners, including the Palestinian Authority, has allowed a tailored response. The EU’s commitment to mine action in the OPT provides a foundation for safe humanitarian response, early recovery efforts, and longer-term development. Together, the EU and UNMAS work to save lives and rebuild hope. Read the EU’s article here: https://lnkd.in/e32uThtJ #MineActionOPT  #ThankYouEU

📌Currently in Beletweyne, #Somalia, UNMAS/UNSOS is conducting vital Conventional Munition Disposal (CMD) training for peacekeepers! Djiboutian peacekeepers serving under African Union Support and Stabilization Mission in #Somalia (AUSSOM) are completing an intensive, fully integrated two-month basic CMD course, running from June to August 2026. UNMAS experts are equipping the officers with critical skills in explosive theory, ammunition identification, and disposal management to safely mitigate hazards in complex environments. "This course will significantly enhance our understanding and knowledge of the various types of conventional ammunition used in Somalia," a DNDF trainee shared. Through key capacity-building initiatives like this, UNMAS and its partners are continuously strengthening force protection, paving the way for sustainable development, enhancing operational readiness, and supporting lasting peace and stabilization efforts across Somalia. #Capacity_Building #PeaceSecurity #MineAction #SustainableDevelopment African Union United Nations OCHA UNDP Somalia

Supporting the Restoration of State Authority in Uvira through Mine Action In support of UN-wide efforts to restore State authority in Uvira, South Kivu, UNMAS, with funding from the MONUSCO Transition Fund, implemented an integrated explosive ordnance risk reduction and response project through its Implementing Partner DanChurchAid (Folkekirkens Nødhjælp (DanChurchAid) Following joint assessment missions conducted by the UN Country Team, UNMAS identified explosive ordnance contamination as a key obstacle to safe access, civilian protection, and the deployment of state institutions. The project helped create safer conditions for communities and authorities by: ✅ Conducting 34 non-technical surveys ✅ Completing 28 explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) tasks ✅ Clearing nearly 14,000 m² of contaminated land, directly benefiting 2,321 people In addition, 2,977 people, including women, men, girls and boys, received Explosive Ordnance Risk Education (EORE). Activities targeted vulnerable groups, including internally displaced persons, school children, police personnel, host communities, and refugees returning from neighboring Burundi. By reducing explosive ordnance threats and empowering communities with life-saving safety information, UNMAS and its partners contributed to a safer environment that supports stabilization efforts, the return of public services, and the restoration of state authority in eastern DRC. #StateAuthority #Stabilization #MineAction #ProtectionOfCivilians #SaferCommunities

Soutenir le rétablissement de l’autorité de l’État à Uvira grâce à la lutte antimines en soutien aux efforts des Nations Unies visant à rétablir l’autorité de l’État à Uvira, au Sud-Kivu, l’UNMAS, grâce au financement du Fonds de transition de la MONUSCO a mis en oeuvre à travers DanChurchAid (Folkekirkens Nødhjælp (DanChurchAid)) un projet intégré de réduction des risques liés aux engins explosifs et de réponse aux menaces de contamination. À la suite de missions conjointes d’évaluation menées par l’Équipe de Pays des Nations Unies, l’UNMAS a identifié la contamination par les engins explosifs comme un obstacle majeur à l’accès sécurisé des populations, à la protection des civils et au redéploiement des institutions de l’État. Le projet a permis d’améliorer les conditions de sécurité pour les communautés et les autorités grâce à : ✅ 34 enquêtes non techniques réalisées ✅ 28 interventions de neutralisation d’engins explosifs (EOD) menées ✅ Près de 14 000 m² de terrain nettoyés, au bénéfice direct de 2,321 personnes En outre, 2 977 personnes, dont des femmes, des hommes, des filles et des garçons, ont bénéficié de séances de sensibilisation aux risques liés aux engins explosifs . Les activités ont ciblé les groupes particulièrement vulnérables, notamment les personnes déplacées internes, les élèves, les agents de la Police nationale congolaise, les communautés hôtes ainsi que les réfugiés de retour du Burundi voisin. En réduisant les menaces liées aux engins explosifs et en sensibilisant les populations aux comportements sûrs, l’UNMAS et ses partenaires contribuent à créer un environnement plus sûr, propice aux efforts de stabilisation, au rétablissement des services publics et au renforcement de l’autorité de l’État dans l’est de la RDC. #AutoritéDeLEtat #Stabilisation #LutteAntimines #ProtectionDesCivils #CommunautésPlusSûres