Summary
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)—sometimes referred to as the scene of the worst emergency to unfold in Africa in recent decades—has more than 1,000 people dying every day from war-related causes, including disease, hunger and violence, according to estimates from the International Crisis Group. Mines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) are among the most pernicious effects of the years of fighting. They threaten to cause death and injuries for years to come.
Because of continued fighting, and the logistical challenges presented by this large and impenetrable country, no nationwide landmine impact survey has been conducted. Information collected by the UN Mine Action Coordination Centre (UNMACC) and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) indicates that mines and UXO are a considerable problem. The number of victims of these devices is relatively high. Explosive remnants of war (ERW) impede mobility, and the UNMACC continues to receive reports of abandoned stockpiles throughout the country. The disarmament, demobilization and reintegration process involving the various militia factions (undertaken by the UN Organization Mission in the DRC, or MONUC) has led to the retrieval of a vast number of mines and ERW.
The Government of the DRC signed and ratified the anti-personnel mine-ban treaty in 2002, but due to the political situation, there has been no significant progress on implementation. A draft national law is waiting in Parliament for a final vote, while a national focal point structure has been established within the Ministry of Interior. The Government continues to demonstrate commitment to the treaty.
Mine action faces constraints ranging from the lack of infrastructure outside major centres to the continued fighting in the east (predominantly in Ituri and the Kivus). A ceasefire agreement covering all forces was signed on 10 July 1999. This and the subsequent negotiations in Sun City allowed some mine action activities to take root. Given fragile security and the disastrous humanitarian situation, however, the funding available for mine action falls short of the scope of the problem.
Each year, UN entities, nongovernmental organizations, national and local authorities and donors collaborate to assemble a national portfolio of mine action project proposals that together reflect the strategic response developed in the field to all aspects of the problem of landmines and explosive remnants of war. A Country Portfolio Coordinator, usually a representative of a UN agency or a national authority, coordinates meetings where all mine action actors agree on a set of projects and priorities and determine funding needs. The proposals in each country's portfolio are assembled with those of other participating countries and published jointly by the UN Mine Action Service, the UN Development Programme and UNICEF in an annual "Portfolio of Mine Action Projects." This publication serves as a tool for collaborative resource mobilization, coordination and planning of mine action activities. The Democratic Republic of Congo Country Portfolio Team's funding appeal for mine action projects in 2007 totals US $17,407,351.
Scope of the Problem
Mines and particularly UXO maim and kill people in the DRC, and hinder humanitarian aid, reconstruction, development and peace-building throughout the country. The extent of the problem is difficult to assess, but the number of victims and dangerous areas being reported suggests that the impact is considerable. The provinces of Equateur, Orientale, the Kivus and Katanga are the most affected. Since 2001, 884 suspected mined areas and 1,342 UXO-polluted areas have been reported. Out of these, 818 and 904 areas, respectively, have not yet been cleared. To date, 2,184 victims have been recorded (931 killed and 1,247 injured). Sadly, the figures represent only the tip of the iceberg, and are expected to rise dramatically as more information is gathered from hitherto inaccessible areas and a tenuous return to normal life in parts of the country allows greater freedom of movement.
The peaceful formation of an integrated Army could mean the beginning of increased humanitarian access and development for the DRC. In this case, it is essential that mine action be adequately funded to ensure the safe return of refugees and internally displaced persons (IDPs); the clearance of agricultural land, school grounds, villages and water resources; and access to all major roads and paths for the local population as well as the humanitarian aid and development community.
The previous year saw an increase in the number of demining operations, and was also characterized by the first involvement of national NGOs in mine action. Although their participation has been limited to mine risk education, it has had an impact on humanitarian demining. In 2010, national NGOs will likely move into victim assistance initiatives and enhanced mine risk education activities.
Coordination and Consultation
In the continued absence of a formal governmental regulatory body, the UN Mine Action Service (UNMAS) manages the UNMACC as an integral part of the MONUC peacekeeping mission. The UNMACC maintains the de facto responsibility for planning, managing and monitoring all mine action activities on behalf of the Government of the DRC. In the coordination process for preparing the Mine Action Portfolio projects, the UNMACC worked in close collaboration with the various stakeholders in the country, including national institutions, UN agencies, and national and international NGOs. Monthly mine action coordination meetings hosted by the UNMACC served as the forum for ensuring maximum participation and consultation with all stakeholders throughout the process.
The DRC is a pilot country for the cluster approach to humanitarian responses coordinated by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Mine action is an integral part of the activities of the larger humanitarian community, playing a significant role in both the logistics and protection clusters. Both the UNMACC and NGOs participate in coordination and planning meetings at all levels. The portfolio process was closely integrated with the wider Consolidated Appeals Process (CAP) for the DRC, thereby ensuring consistency and coordination.
In 2007, the UNMACC strengthened its coordination and collaboration with the national authorities. Since then, a stronger partnership has been established between it and national authorities.
Strategy
Humanitarian mine action is oriented around reaching its third and last phase—focusing on national capacity development and the formation of national strategies and plans—as prescribed in UN Security Council Resolution 1291 (2000), which gives MONUC its mandate.
In the meantime, the emphasis will continue to be on the implementation of humanitarian mine action emergency responses and the provision of support to the country’s overall recovery process. The landmine and UXO problem will be addressed through a proactive and holistic humanitarian mine action approach, coupling data collection with mine risk education, and followed, depending on the level of socioeconomic impacts and restriction of movement, by marking and/or clearance. The aim will be to integrate mine action needs into the transitional, reconstruction and development plans of the DRC. To this end, a number of sector objectives have been endorsed following consultations with all main stakeholders:
- Implement a coordination strategy, to achieve safer, more efficient humanitarian mine action;
- Develop and implement national policies, under a strategic plan for humanitarian mine action, including a policy on victim assistance;
- Ensure the full implementation of the anti-personnel mine-ban treaty;
- Support peace-building, recovery and development initiatives, gather technical and geographical information on mine and UXO contamination, undertake needs assessments for landmine and ERW victims, promote safe behaviour in affected communities, reduce casualties and injuries, and maintain the national information management database;
- Clear all high-priority contaminated areas, and mark lower priority ones to improve access to vital natural resources and basic social services, and facilitate the return of IDPs and refugees;
- Further invest in developing a credible and sustainable national humanitarian mine action capacity;
- Continue to implement a socially inclusive approach to the planning and execution of humanitarian mine action, seeking to advance gender equality and ensuring that all activities are based on inputs from individuals representing different social groups (along the lines of age, gender, social status, occupation, etc.) in affected communities; and
- Mobilize adequate resources to achieve the objectives.
Date Anti-Personnel Mine-Ban Treaty signed: N/A
Date of Anti-Personnel Mine-Ban Treaty ratification or accession: May 02, 2002
Consents to be bound by Protocol II of Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons: N/A
Consents to be bound by Amended Protocol II of Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons: N/A
Date signed Protocol V of Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons: N/A