The United Nations Mine Action Service (UNMAS) has received a generous donation of US$2 million from Denmark and Japan to support its humanitarian mine action activities and operations in Ethiopia.
The donation comes at a critical time, as Ethiopia faces a humanitarian crisis due to the ongoing conflict in the northern region of Tigray, which has left millions of people in need of assistance and protection.
According to UNMAS, the conflict has resulted in widespread explosive contamination, which poses a serious threat to the safety and security of civilians, humanitarian workers, and peacekeepers. Explosive ordnance, such as landmines and unexploded bombs, are scattered across residential areas, displacement sites, and public facilities, creating barriers to access basic services and humanitarian aid.
UNMAS is working to address this challenge by conducting technical assessments, marking and clearing dangerous areas, providing explosive hazard awareness training, and supporting the development of national mine action capacities.
The donation from Denmark and Japan will enable UNMAS to continue and expand its vital work in Ethiopia, especially in the northern region, where the needs are most acute. The Danish contribution of seven million Danish krone (DKK), equivalent to US$1.08 million, will support UNMAS humanitarian mine action to promote peace and safety in northern Ethiopia. The Japanese contribution of US$1.19 million will also target the northern region, with a focus on enhancing the protection of civilians and facilitating humanitarian access.
UNMAS Chief of Mine Action in Ethiopia, Francesca Chiaudani, expressed her gratitude to the donors for their generous and timely support.
“We are grateful for the continued support of the Government of Japan to build a peaceful and safe Ethiopia and protect its population from the dangers of explosives hazards. UNMAS is engaged in improving security for the people of Ethiopia and co-ordinating humanitarian mine action interventions in the country,” she said.
She also thanked Denmark for its contribution, adding that mine action was “essential to enable a return to normalcy of education and health systems” among others.
UNMAS is a service within the United Nations that provides leadership, coordination, and assistance to mine action activities in 18 countries and territories. UNMAS works to reduce the impact of landmines, explosive remnants of war, and improvised explosive devices on peace and security, humanitarian relief, human rights, and socio-economic development.