Press release 04 April 2024  International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action   On 8 December 2005, the General Assembly declared that 4 April of each year shall be observed as the International Day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action. This year, for 4 April, the United Nations in Syria would like to stress the need for enhancing protection of people who face the dangers of explosive hazard contamination every day, in both rural and urban areas throughout the country. The presence of abandoned and unexploded bombs, mines, and improvised explosiv ..read more

UNMAS Welcomes the Contribution of the Government of Japan to Humanitarian Mine Action in Nigeria Nigeria, 14 February 2024 - The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) welcomes the contribution of $650,000 from the People and Government of Japan for the provision of life-saving explosive ordnance risk education (EORE) for internally displaced persons (IDPs), returnees, and refugees in northeast Nigeria. The project is aimed at mitigating the threat posed by improvised explosive devices (IEDs), mines and other explosive ordnance in Nigeria. The Chief of the Mine Action Programme in Ni ..read more

  ARABIC Version   The Contribution from the Republic of Korea Enables UNMAS Iraq to Continue Supporting the Government and the National Mine Action Operators Baghdad, 8 February 2024 – The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in Iraq welcomes the contribution of $ 100,000 from the Government of the Republic of Korea, which will contribute to supporting the Government of Iraq to reduce the risks of explosive ordnance contamination and protect the lives of vulnerable communities in Iraq. Explosive ordnance contamination across Iraq, including improvised explosive devices in the ..read more

                                                                             ARABIC VERSION HERE   Belgian Contribution Enables UNMAS Iraq to Continue Supporting the Government and the National Mine Action Operators Baghdad, 27 November 2023 – The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in Iraq welcomes a renewed contribution of EUR 750,000 (approximately USD 802,000) from the Government ..read more

deminer_sweden_flag.jpg The Government of Sweden extends its support to explosive hazards management activities in Iraq Baghdad, 2 October 2023: The Government of Sweden contributed an additional 10 million Swedish Krona (SEK) (USD 898,133.84) to the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in support of the humanitarian mine action sector endeavors to reduce the risks of explosive ordnance contamination and protect the lives of vulnerable communities in Iraq. Since UNMAS programme inception in 2015, the Government of Sweden, through the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency ..read more

Mogadishu, 12 June 2023 - The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) is deeply saddened and profoundly alarmed by the tragic incident on 9 June involving unexploded ordnance (UXO) in the Lower Shabelle region of Somalia, which has claimed the lives of 27 civilians, including 22 children, and has left 53 others injured. “UNMAS expresses its sincere condolences to the families affected by this devastating event and shares in their grief and pain during this incredibly difficult time. The loss of innocent lives, especially children, is an immense tragedy that underscores the urgent need ..read more

For the fourth consecutive year, Belgium is providing 2 million euros to the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) for its activities in Iraq and Syria. With this support, we offer the vulnerable among the population the opportunity to return to an active life. Many land mines are scattered on roads, in agricultural fields or near schools. Moreover, this aid consolidates the success of the International Coalition against Islamic State. The funds will be used for mine clearance, risk education and victim assistance. What needs? The needs for demining in Syria and in Iraq remain high, as mo ..read more

[English] Basra, 24 October 2022 – Two Iraqi members of a team working for a United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) implementing partner were killed and a third was injured in an incident at an explosive ordnance clearance site at Shatt al-Arab near Basra in southern Iraq today.   The incident occurred in the early morning at the site managed by Al Khebra Al Fania (AKAF), which is one of UNMAS Iraq’s implementing partners. The injured person was reported to be in stable condition in hospital.    UNMAS Iraq and the entire UN family in Iraq convey their deepest condolence ..read more

Addis Ababa, 11 February 2022 – Recent conflict in northern Ethiopia has contaminated vast swathes of land with explosive remnants of war (ERW), endangering the lives of returning refugees, internally displaced persons (IDPs) and the local population. The Government of Japan has renewed its commitment to promote peace and stability in Ethiopia by contributing two hundred thousand USD (approximately 10 million ETB) to the United Nations Voluntary Trust Fund for Assistance in Mine Action. This important contribution will enable the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) to deliver lifesaving ..read more

Jerusalem, 26 April 2022 – The Government of Japan has contributed US $1,134,203.00 to the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS), for the mine action project “Humanitarian Mine Action to Reduce Explosive Risk Faced by Civilians''. The funding from the Government of Japan will support the project to deliver explosive ordnance risk education (EORE) and conflict preparedness and protection (CPP) training, and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) response in the Gaza Strip. The project will minimize the threat of explosive ordnance for vulnerable populations in Gaza, the United Nations ..read more