The European Commission, through its Department for Foreign Policy Instruments (FPI), has provided new funding to the United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) in Sudan, to support mine clearance activities aimed at improving civilian safety, access for NGOs and humanitarian aid and rapid recovery in areas affected by the conflict.
This is a contribution of 3 million euros which should support the implementation of a project spread over 18 months and entitled: “Rebuilding Sudan: anti-mine action for recovery”, indicates a press release published Monday on the website of the Delegation of the European Union near Sudan.
The various parties involved expect to see this project combat widespread contamination by explosive munitions in accessible urban and peri-urban areas, welcoming large numbers of people back to their homes, particularly in the capital Khartoum.
Since April 2023, the war in Sudan has generated massive contamination by unexploded munitions (mines, rockets) in residential areas and infrastructure, particularly in Khartoum. This direct threat to civilians hinders the return of nearly 4 million displaced people, making mine clearance crucial for security, humanitarian aid and reconstruction in 2026
Kazumi Ogawa, director of the United Nations Missile Warfare Service (UNMAS), recognizing that “explosive ordnance still poses a deadly threat to families seeking to return home to Sudan,” argued that with EU support, UNMAS will demine priority areas and help create conditions for returns and to a safe recovery.
The improvement in security and access will benefit nearly 1.7 million people, i.e. 700,000 civilians directly and more than a million indirectly thanks to the resumption of humanitarian aid and essential services (health, education, water, food).
The press release underlines that this action complements the humanitarian aid that the EU is currently providing to Sudan by favoring more systematic and targeted mine clearance, thus promoting rapid recovery and reconstruction.
UNMAS promises to implement the project in close coordination with national authorities, humanitarian and recovery partners, and the broader mine action community.
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