MineTech mobilises to tackle Sudanese landmines

MineTech is taking a leading role in the international humanitarian initiative to tackle Sudan's crippling landmine legacy, having been awarded an $10 million contract to work on four separate initiatives across Sudan.

MineTech International has mobilised 115 specialist personnel, ground clearance machinery, mechanical mine detecting units and mine detecting dog teams to tackle both landmines and other explosive remnants of war (ERW) that continue to kill and injure the population and hamper aid and regeneration programmes in the region. Their targets are two clearance projects in Darfur in the west, a third in Juba in the far south and a fourth in Kasala in the east near the Eritrean border. In Darfur, MineTech teams will deliver both battle area clearance and an education programme aimed at reducing the number of landmine and ERW casualties amongst local people. Darfur is particularly affected by unexploded ordnance which, because of their bright colours and unusual shapes, can have a fatal attraction to children.

The contracts give MineTech the leading role in supporting the Sudanese landmine initiative over the next 12 months, involving their teams in mine and explosives clearance and mine risk education projects right across Sudan.

Says Max Dyke, Operations Manager at MineTech, "This initiative in Sudan is a key focus for the international community and we are pleased that MineTech is at the very heart of it."

Heavy duty ground clearance machinery has been shipped from MineTech's development base near Devizes along with a range of lightweight mine detection vehicles. Designed and built by MineTech in the UK, these are particularly valuable for the task in Sudan both because of their performance in harsh, desert environments but also because of their role in detecting landmines on roads. With so many displaced people, creating safe travel routes is a major priority. A key part of the project will be transferring skills and technical knowledge to local people to facilitate ongoing clearance and education programmes that will continue beyond the scope of this emergency operation.

Confirms Max, "ERWs pose a significant threat to the people of Sudan causing death and injury. Fear of landmines also hampers travel and transportation and their continued presence is a major barrier to regeneration and development."

Exploration Logistics Group, through its specialist remote site medical division has been supporting staff working across Sudan for more than 18 months, providing medical support to 900 people in the region whose job is to give logistical support to the African Union's Sudanese peacekeeping mission.

Adds Max, "We have extensive experience of the many difficulties that all our teams will face in achieving their objectives in a country with ongoing instability and limited infrastructure."