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Palestine

Last Updated: 18 June 2010

Mine Action

Contamination and Impact

Mines

The Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT) are contaminated with mines and explosive remnants of war (ERW) although the precise scope, scale, and impact of the contamination is not known. Since the beginning of the intifada, the mine and UXO problem has increased, encompassing minefields, military training zones, and areas of confrontation, where many explosive devices are left behind.[1]

There are believed to be at least 15 confirmed minefields, all located in the West Bank on the border with Jordan. Palestinian National Security Forces are said to lack maps or records of minefields. The UN has called for a mine action survey to be conducted in the West Bank in order to begin to assess the scope, scale, and impact on communities and development.[2]

Further hazards exist as a result of Operation Cast Lead, conducted by Israel from 27 December 2008 to 18 January 2009. The UN stated that while antivehicle mines were used to demolish buildings, there is no evidence that antipersonnel mines were laid by either side.[3]

Cluster munition remnants and other explosive remnants of war

The UN reported in June 2009 that an array of UXO in Gaza as a result of Operation Cast Lead was proving a significant obstacle to reconstruction efforts as well as a threat to life and limb.[4] As of 1 March 2010, Mines Advisory Group (MAG) explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) teams had assessed 1,632 sites totaling 882.57km2, of which 36% were categorized as having a ‘high’ or ‘medium’ risk of containing UXO, therefore requiring further EOD support.[5]

There are not believed to be cluster munition remnants in the OPT. The precise nature and extent of ERW contamination is, however, not known.

Mine Action Program

There is a Palestinian Mine Action Committee (PNMAC), which was established in 2002, but it has not been active since 2008.[6]

Since January 2009, the UN Mine Action Team in Gaza (UNMAT-GO)[7] has been addressing contamination in Gaza resulting from Operation Cast Lead.[8] As of February 2010, it was assumed that UNMAT-GO would complete all known activities within Gaza by the end of December 2010 and then withdraw, passing all residual responsibility to the de facto authorities.[9] In April 2010, however, it was reported that UNMAT-GO was in the process of starting a dialogue with the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Palestinian Authorities regarding possible future mine action interventions in the West Bank, the Golan Heights, and Israel.[10]

In Gaza, UNICEF has started a mine/ERW risk education (RE) working group.[11]

Land Release

Clearance in Gaza has focused on removal of ERW to enable reconstruction activities to take place. During 2009, UNMAT-GO identified 334 ERW in Gaza.[12]

As of February 2010, it was reported that EOD teams had uncovered a total of 171 items of UXO, which had been found during rubble removal activities, of which 71 items were M15 antivehicle mines used as demolition charges in the demolition of buildings and 58 items were white phosphorus artillery rounds left from Operation Cast Lead.[13] In March 2010, MAG began destruction of the white phosphorus rounds.[14] UNMAT-GO reported that an additional 10 items of UXO were found in March and April 2010 (including a further five white phosphorus rounds), bringing the total of UXO found since operations began to 355 items as well as 2,100 rounds of small arms ammunition.[15]

There are no reports of clearance activities in the West Bank in 2009.

Community liaison

MAG deploys a Community Liaison Manager and Community Liaison Officer to gather information on required EOD taskings, in addition to those provided through the UN. The Community Liaison Manager also assisted with the development of UXO Safety Awareness Training modules to support the EOD teams during rubble removal and reconstruction activities.[16]

Quality management

External quality management is limited to monitoring during demolitions and the conduct of EOD tasks. MAG also conducts internal quality management during EOD operations. UNMAT-GO has accredited MAG and approved its standing operating procedures.[17] 

Other Risk Reduction Measures

From 1999 to 2008, mine/ERW RE activities were provided in the West Bank and Gaza mainly through school-based activities and public information dissemination. After Operation Cast Lead, specific emergency RE activities were carried out.[18] On 21 March 2010, UNMAT-GO facilitated an RE material design workshop in Gaza.[19]

 



[1] UN, “2010 Portfolio of Mine Action Projects,” New York, November 2009, p. 262.

[2] Ibid.

[3] UNMAT-GO, “Unexploded Ordnance and Gaza: Operation Cast Lead,” Newsletter No. 1, 3 June 2009, www.ochaopt.org.

[4] Ibid.

[5] UN, “Situation Report, United Nations Mine Action Team, Gaza Office, January–February 2010,” www.reliefweb.int.

[6] UN, “2010 Portfolio of Mine Action Projects,” New York, November 2009, p. 262.

[7] The UNMAT-Gaza Office is composed of an UNMAS management and coordination team and five EOD teams from MAG, two medics provided by the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, and a paramedic provided by Global Medic.

[8] Reply to Monitor questionnaire by Celine François, Programme Officer, UNMAT-GO, 14 April 2010.

[9] UN, “Situation Report, United Nations Mine Action Team, Gaza Office, January–February 2010,” www.reliefweb.int.

[10] Reply to Monitor questionnaire by Celine François, UNMAT-GO, 14 April 2010.

[11] UN, “2010 Portfolio of Mine Action Projects,” New York, November 2009, p. 263.

[12] Reply to Monitor questionnaire by Celine François, UNMAT-GO, 14 April 2010.

[13] UN, “Situation Report, United Nations Mine Action Team, Gaza Office, January–February 2010,” www.reliefweb.int.

[14] MAG, “Gaza: MAG begins destruction of white phosphorus artillery rounds,” 18 March 2010, www.maginternational.org.

[15] UNMAT-GO, Newsletter, Issue 5, May 2010, www.ochaopt.org.

[16] Ibid.

[17] Ibid.

[18] UN, “2010 Portfolio of Mine Action Projects,” New York, November 2009, p. 262.

[19] UNMAT-GO, Newsletter, Issue 5, May 2010, www.ochaopt.org.